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Women Journalists Without Chains unequivocally condemns the arbitrary and violent re-arrest of prominent human rights defender and Nobel Peace Prize laureate Narges Mohammadi by Iranian security forces on Friday, 12 December 2025, in the city of Mashhad, northeastern Iran.

The manner in which this arrest was carried out constitutes a grave assault on human dignity and a flagrant violation of Iran’s international human rights obligations.

According to verified information obtained by Women Journalists Without Chains’ monitoring and documentation unit, Iranian security forces surrounded a mosque in Mashhad during a memorial service for the late lawyer and human rights defender Khosrow Alikordi, forcibly stormed the premises, and violently assaulted attendees. During the raid, Narges Mohammadi was beaten on her legs, dragged by her hair, and forcibly taken to an undisclosed location, in blatant violation of her physical integrity and personal dignity.

The repression extended beyond Mohammadi, as security forces arbitrarily detained approximately 39 activists and mourners, including prominent activist Sepideh Qolian, lawyer Javad Alikordi—the brother of the deceased—and human rights activist Pouran Nazemi. Detainees were reportedly accused of vague and unfounded charges, including “chanting unlawful slogans” and “disturbing public order”.

Commenting on the incident, Nobel Peace Prize laureate and Head of Women Journalists Without Chains, Tawakkol Karman stated: “We follow with deep concern and profound outrage the violent re-arrest of my fellow Nobel laureate, Narges Mohammadi, and the unjustified use of force against unarmed civil activists during a funeral ceremony.”

She added: “This repressive conduct, which failed to respect even the sanctity of death and memorial rites, does not reflect the strength of the authorities but rather exposes their fragility and deep fear of the free word and of any peaceful gathering that reminds people of their stolen rights. Narges Mohammadi, through her exceptional resilience despite her deteriorating health, embodies the living voice of the Iranian conscience—a voice that cannot be silenced behind bars.”

Legal and Human Rights Violations

Women Journalists Without Chains stresses that the actions of Iranian authorities amount to multiple and serious violations of international human rights law, including:

• Violation of the right to peaceful assembly and expression: Participation in a memorial service constitutes a legitimate exercise of freedoms guaranteed under Articles 19 and 21 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), to which Iran is a State Party.
• Arbitrary and excessive use of force: Credible testimonies confirming that Mohammadi was beaten and dragged constitute violations of the absolute prohibition of torture and cruel, inhuman, or degrading treatment under international law.
• Severe risks to health and life: Women Journalists Without Chains expresses grave concern for Mohammadi’s life and physical well-being. She was temporarily released in December 2024 on medical grounds due to serious heart and lung conditions. Her re-incarceration under violent circumstances amounts to a form of deliberate medical neglect and places her at imminent risk.
• Pattern of systematic repression: The timing of this arrest, coupled with serious questions surrounding the death of lawyer Khosrow Alikordi —who reportedly died under suspicious circumstances in his office and whose surveillance cameras were subsequently confiscated—suggests a deliberate strategy to suppress accountability, silence truth-seekers, and intimidate civil society.

Accordingly, Women Journalists Without Chains calls on:

• Iranian authorities to immediately and unconditionally release Narges Mohammadi, Sepideh Qolian, and all individuals arbitrarily detained in connection with the memorial service; to guarantee Mohammadi’s immediate access to specialized medical care; and to ensure unhindered access to her family and legal counsel.
• The UN Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Iran to initiate an urgent and independent investigation into the circumstances surrounding the death of Khosrow Alikordi and the violent crackdown accompanying these arrests.
• The international community, including the European Union, to move beyond expressions of concern and exert concrete and effective diplomatic pressure commensurate with the gravity and persistence of these violations, in fulfillment of their responsibility to protect human rights defenders.

Concluding her statement, Tawakkol Karman emphasized: “The brutal targeting of a Nobel Peace Prize laureate is a direct challenge to the international community and to universal human values. I hold the Iranian authorities fully responsible for the safety and life of Narges Mohammadi, particularly in light of medical reports confirming her urgent need for treatment outside prison. I call on UN mechanisms, human rights organizations, and all free voices around the world to act immediately—not only to demand her release, but to expose and confront the systematic violations inflicted upon the Iranian people. Freedom is inevitable, and attempts to crush the will of women human rights defenders will only strengthen our collective resolve.”

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