Iranian imprisoned Nobel laureate hospitalised after health decline

Iranian Nobel Peace Prize laureate Narges Mohammadi has been transferred from prison to a hospital following what her foundation described as a “catastrophic deterioration” in her health.

According to a statement from the Narges Foundation, Mohammadi was moved from Zanjan prison to a medical facility in Iran’s Zanjan province after weeks of appeals from her family and supporters for urgent care, CNN reports. 

Advocates had repeatedly called on Iranian authorities to allow her access to specialised medical treatment, warning of her worsening condition. The foundation said those appeals had gone unanswered until the recent transfer.

Earlier this year, the foundation reported that Mohammadi had gone on hunger strike in February. In March, it said she was in extremely poor health, had suffered a suspected heart attack, and had been denied access to specialist care.

Mohammadi, one of Iran’s most prominent human rights activists, was awarded the 2023 Nobel Peace Prize for “her fight against the oppression of women in Iran and her fight to promote human rights and freedom for all.”

By Sabina Mammadli