By Elsie Kamsiyochi
Jailed Nobel Peace Prize winner remains in critical condition in a hospital in northwestern Iran, according to a statement released by a foundation run by her family. The update, issued on Sunday, paints a worrying picture of her deteriorating health following an emergency transfer from prison just two days earlier.
Mohammadi, a prominent human rights activist in her 50s, is currently being treated in a cardiac care unit in the city of Zanjan. Medical staff are reportedly struggling to stabilise her condition as her blood pressure continues to fluctuate unpredictably. According to the foundation, treatment so far has been limited, focusing primarily on oxygen therapy and basic stabilisation measures rather than more advanced or specialised care.
Her sudden hospitalisation came after what the foundation described as a “catastrophic deterioration” in her health. This included two episodes in which she lost consciousness completely, along with a severe cardiac crisis that raised urgent concerns about her survival. The incident follows earlier reports from her family that she had suffered a suspected heart attack in late March, signalling a pattern of declining health that has now reached a critical stage.
The foundation has called for her immediate transfer to Tehran, arguing that only her trusted medical team in the capital is equipped to provide the level of care she urgently needs. Without such intervention, they warn, her chances of recovery could diminish significantly.
Mohammadi was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 2023 while still imprisoned, in recognition of her long-standing campaign for women’s rights and her efforts to abolish the death penalty in Iran. Her activism has made her one of the most internationally recognised critics of Iran’s human rights record, but it has also led to repeated arrests and lengthy prison sentences.
In February, the foundation reported that she had been handed an additional prison term of more than seven years, further extending her time in detention. The sentencing came amid heightened geopolitical tensions involving Iran, drawing renewed international attention to her case. At the time, the Nobel Committee publicly urged Iranian authorities to release her immediately.
Her most recent arrest dates back to December, when she was detained after speaking out at a memorial for lawyer Khosrow Alikordi. Iranian officials accused her of making provocative remarks during the ceremony, allegations that her supporters say are part of a broader effort to silence dissent.
As Mohammadi remains under close medical supervision, concerns are mounting among her supporters and international observers about both her immediate health and her continued imprisonment.
The situation has intensified calls for humanitarian intervention, with advocates stressing that access to proper medical care is not only essential but urgent.
Source Reuters