Nobel laureate speaks from exile

Narges Mohammadi, 2023 Nobel Peace Prize winner, was temporarily released from Iranian prison for medical reasons and recently gave an interview from outside the country.

Iran's repression has 'severely increased'

Since the war began 18 months ago, economic misery and brutal crackdowns have left Iranians with 'no room to breathe,' Mohammadi told the Associated Press.

“repression in society has severely increased and now, with these economic pressures and with the repression that really has left no room for people to breathe, it's the people who are paying an extremely heavy price”

But resistance is rising among youth

Despite intensified government crackdowns, a new generation of Iranians knows their rights and is standing firm. Mohammadi sees 'a wave of resistance among the people' and reason for hope.

“If you go out into the streets, you see a wave of resistance among the people, a wave of awareness, and their determination to stand up for their rights”

Beaten and held in solitary confinement

Mohammadi was severely beaten by security forces in December while attending a memorial for a human rights lawyer, then spent two months in solitary confinement despite her injuries.

“My detention was really life-threatening. My head was severely hurt, because most of the hits were to my head”

Sentenced to 16 years for attending rally

She received a 16-year sentence plus over 100 lashes for giving a public speech at a memorial ceremony. She lost consciousness in May and was released on bail for medical treatment.

Memoir smuggled out page by page

Mohammadi wrote her book 'A Woman Never Stops Fighting' behind bars, with fellow inmates smuggling out pages one at a time. Editions in 11 languages are being released this month.

“with the help of fellow inmates, we got a few pages out, a few pages at a time. If it weren't for them, I couldn't have done it”

Inspired by women who resisted

Mohammadi drew strength from her mother and other women's stories of resistance. She also carries childhood memories of the 1980s Iran-Iraq war and developed a deep hatred for war.

Facing 44 years of sentences

Mohammadi has accumulated 44 years in sentences and already served 10 years in prison, including 161 days in solitary. She is banned from traveling abroad and separated from her family in France.

Suspended sentence could mean return anytime

Her current sentence is suspended, meaning she must return to prison whenever the judiciary orders it. She remains at risk of immediate re-arrest despite her international prominence.

“My sentence is currently suspended, and I must return whenever the judiciary issues the order”