Iran has sentenced Nobel Peace Prize winner Narges Mohammadi to an additional seven years in prison following her hunger strike, according to supporters. This decision comes amidst Tehran’s crackdown on dissidents in the wake of widespread protests and casualties caused by security forces.
Mohammadi’s new convictions were announced by her lawyer, Mostafa Nili, who confirmed the verdict on social media platform X. The Revolutionary Court in Mashhad handed down the sentence on Saturday, with Mohammadi receiving six years for ‘gathering and collusion,’ one and a half years for propaganda, and a two-year travel ban. Additionally, she was given two years of internal exile in Khosf, located about 740 kilometers southeast of Tehran.
Agnès Callamard, Amnesty International’s secretary general, described Mohammadi’s sentence as a reflection of escalating repression against dissent and protests by Iranian authorities. Mohammadi, who has been on a hunger strike since February 2, was arrested in December at an event honoring human rights advocate Khosrow Alikordi. She has been an emblematic figure for Iranian activists and had previously served a 13-year and nine-month sentence for state security collusion and anti-government propaganda.
Despite suffering health issues, including heart attacks and undergoing surgery, Mohammadi continued her activism, participating in public demonstrations and media engagements. Iranian officials have taken a tougher stance on dissent following recent protests, with judiciary chief Gholamhossein Mohseni-Ejei warning of severe penalties for those deemed critical of the government.