Narges Mohammadi, an Iranian human rights activist and the Nobel Peace Prize laureate for 2023, has been denied hospital treatment for refusing to wear a hijab.
Alieh Motallebzadeh, a civil activist and women’s rights advocate, mentioned that Mohammadi was denied treatment for the second time on Monday because she did not adhere to the mandatory state laws regarding hijab.
Motallebzadeh expressed concern about Mohammadi’s health, stating that her heart veins are blocked and she requires angioplasty. However, authorities have refused to transfer her to a medical facility due to her refusal to wear the headscarf.
Mohammadi, a staunch advocate for women’s rights and a prominent figure in the Women, Life, Freedom protests, has consistently spoken out against compulsory hijab in Iran.
In recent months, Mohammadi, aged 51, has written multiple letters from Evin Prison, where she has been held since November 2021, serving a twelve-year sentence on charges including “propaganda against the Islamic Republic.” She has consistently denied the allegations, which were brought against her after she publicly opposed the death penalty.
Mohammadi, who is the co-founder and chairperson of the Defenders of Human Rights Center, has experienced detention and imprisonment on numerous occasions over the past twenty years.