(NewsSpace.com) – Iran isn’t known for treating women well. In fact, the country has an established force of so-called “morality police” that make sure women wear proper clothing and cover their hair. In 2022, 22-year-old Mahsa Amini died after being taken into custody due to not wearing her hijab. She’s not the only one who has drawn controversy due to how she was treated by Iran’s officials.
Narges Mohammadi, a Nobel Peace Prize winner, has been arrested several times and has continuously been in and out of prison since 2010. Now, authorities have tacked on another charge and more jail time.
Who Is Narges Mohammadi?
Narges Mohammadi is a human rights activist in a country where women’s rights are virtually nonexistent. She has been in and out of jail for decades, but that hasn’t stopped her from trying to fight against authorities and seek equal treatment. For her efforts, she’s been repeatedly charged with “spreading anti-state propaganda” and has been convicted at least five times since March 2021. At that time, she was jailed, and since then, she has been charged and convicted of more crimes three additional times, adding to her sentence. Following Amini’s death in 2022, Mohammadi was instrumental in organizing prison protests and leading workshops in prison to educate female inmates about their rights.
Most Recent Conviction
The most recent conviction came after a trial was held in December, which she did not attend. Mohammadi reportedly refused to attend the court sessions. On December 19, officials added 15 more months to her sentence. But that’s not all.
According to a post on Threads by her family, Mohammadi is also exiled from Tehran for a period of two years, which means she’ll likely have to move jails. Additionally, she will be on a two-year travel ban, which means she can’t leave the country. She won’t be able to use a smartphone during that time, either. Finally, the sentence also resulted in a two-year ban on involvement in social-political groups.
Her family noted that the additional prohibitions resemble “a political statement” against her, “emphasizing accusations that she repeatedly incites and encourages public and individual opinions against the Islamic regime” as a means of “sow[ing] chaos and disturbances.”
All in all, those five convictions since 2021 add up to 12 years and three months in jail. She was also sentenced to receive 154 lashes, though it’s not clear if she received them at this time. Mohammadi has suffered health setbacks in prison, including having a heart attack, but has been persistent in her efforts.
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