We, the undersigned, request sustained global pressure onto the Islamic Republic of Iran to curtail its systemic violation of human rights with seeming impunity. Among an alarming number of human right activists in Iran's jails sits Narges Mohammadi, the 2023 Nobel Peace Laureate who has devoted decades of her life to non-violent advocacy of human rights and gender equality in Iran. We demand immediate and unconditional release of Narges Mohammadi, as well as repeal of all illegal and inhumane charges and convictions against her. We are particularly concerned about Mohammadi’s health and wellbeing, as she is currently being denied an urgent medical procedure for a life-threatening heart condition. We are therefore joining other civil society and international human rights groups in calling for Narges Mohammadi’s immediate release from prison so that she can seek the essential medical care, reunite with her family, and receive the well-deserved recognition at the Nobel Peace Prize award ceremony on December 10th in Oslo. 

For the past several decades, Narges Mohammadi has been a key force of the Iranian women’s rights movement, fighting for equality, freedom, and justice in the face of repression and violence as perpetuated by the Islamic Republic of Iran. Her fierce dedication to plural democracy, rule of law, and non-discrimination has resulted in extensive human rights campaigns, including the One Million Signatures Campaigns for reform of discriminatory laws, to abolish the death penalty, to Stop Honor Killings, as well as for voluntary veiling in opposition to Iran’s tyrannical mandatory hijab laws. 

The Islamic Republic authorities have consistently feared Mohammadi's steadfast devotion to the protection of human rights, plural democracy and social justice. As a means to forcefully silence her, they have thus far arrested her 13 times, convicted her 5 times, and sentenced her to a total of 31 years in prison and 154 lashes. Throughout her imprisonment, Mohammadi has been subject to extensive mental and physical torture while her right to due process, under Iran’s own laws, has been repeatedly violated.

The Iranian authorities’ cruelty against Mohammadi has increased substantially in recent years. Her dire health situation, which is rapidly deteriorating as a result of the Iranian regime’s intentional and blatant disregard for her health, is currently placing her life at risk. On November 15, 2023 the Judiciary prosecutor of the Islamic Republic announced that she will be denied the suggested medical procedure at the hospital unless she wears the compulsory hijab to receive the treatment. Mohammadi has however refused this condition out of solidarity with the women and girls who are risking their lives and freedoms to resist mandatory hijab in Iran. Mohammadi has defiantly declared that “I will stand for freedom and equality even with the cost of my life, and I will not rest until democracy is realized. I will resist "forced hijab" not just in words but in action, as Mahsa, Nika, Ghazaleh, Sarina, & Armita have done and paid with their lives.”

In 2023 Nobel Peace Prize award statement the Nobel Committee correctly recognized “the hundreds of thousands of people who, in the preceding year, have demonstrated against Iran’s theocratic regime’s policies of discrimination and oppression targeting women,” emphasizing the importance of non-violent and women-led protests for democracy and freedom in Iran. We, the undersigned, echo this sentiment and commend the bravery of Iranian people to protest injustice and oppression in their fight for “Woman, Life, Freedom”.