135. Iranian authorities are at it again

Amidst sanctions, economic decline, and fears of a new conflict with Israel, Iran has increased its crackdown on intellectuals and others. 

In a significant escalation of the government's crackdown on dissent, Narges Mohammadi (53), the Iranian Nobel Peace Prize laureate and human rights advocate, was detained yesterday during a raid on a memorial service in Mashhad.

The arrest happened when she was attending a memorial for a human rights lawyer recently discovered dead under uncertain circumstances.

Security forces raided a mosque where mourners had gathered to honour Khosrow Alikordi. He was detained along with at least nine other prominent activists and civil society leaders.

The raid transformed a solemn memorial into a chaotic scene, as authorities viewed the gathering as a potential catalyst for political mobilisation.

Mohammadi is a prominent figure associated with the Woman Life Freedom movement that gained prominence following Mahsa Amini's death in police custody in 2022. She has spent much of the past twenty years moving in and out of Tehran’s Evin prison.

An engineer by training, Mohammadi has been imprisoned 13 times and convicted five. Overall, she has been sentenced to over 30 years. She was serving a sentence until her temporary release in December 2024 for medical reasons.

Media reports indicate that when she stood on a car to speak to the crowd, she was without the required hijab, a form of civil disobedience that has become central to her public defiance. 

Iran’s action reveals a government afraid of truth and accountability. 

This incident also highlights the remarkable bravery of Iranians who remain steadfast in upholding their dignity. 

And it's truly unfortunate that peaceful citizens cannot mourn without encountering state violence.

And it is equally unfortunate that the world community can do nothing.

We can only support the Norwegian Nobel Committee's call for the Iranian authorities to promptly clarify Mohammadi’s location, guarantee her safety and well-being, and release her unconditionally.

The world is becoming increasingly hellish.