Iran has sentenced Nobel Peace Prize winner Narges Mohammadi to more than seven additional years in prison, her supporters said on Sunday, following her recent hunger strike. The ruling comes as authorities intensify their repression of dissent in the wake of nationwide protests and the deaths of thousands during security force crackdowns.
The new sentence was confirmed by Mohammadi’s lawyer, Mostafa Nili, who said it was issued on Saturday by a Revolutionary Court in Mashhad. Such courts are known for fast-tracking verdicts with limited opportunities for defendants to challenge the charges. “She has been sentenced to six years in prison for ‘gathering and collusion’ and one and a half years for propaganda and two-year travel ban,” Nili wrote. He added that Mohammadi was also given two years of internal exile to Khosf, around 740km southeast of Tehran.
Amnesty International condemned the ruling, with its secretary-general Agnes Callamard describing it as “a reflection of the skyrocketing lethal repression against dissent and protests waged by the authorities.” Iranian officials have yet to publicly acknowledge the sentence.
Supporters say Mohammadi, 53, began a hunger strike on February 2 and ended it on Sunday due to deteriorating health after the court decision. She was arrested in December during a ceremony honouring human rights lawyer Khosrow Alikordi, with footage showing her demanding justice for political prisoners.
Mohammadi has long been a powerful symbol for Iranian activists. After receiving temporary medical furlough in December 2024, she remained out of prison longer than expected, possibly due to international pressure. During that period, she continued to protest publicly and speak to international media, even demonstrating outside Tehran’s Evin prison, where she had previously been held.
Before the latest ruling, Mohammadi had been serving a 13-year, nine-month sentence on charges including collusion against state security and propaganda against the government. She also openly supported protests sparked by the 2022 death of Mahsa Amini, during which many women defied mandatory hijab rules.
Her supporters say Mohammadi has suffered multiple heart attacks while imprisoned and underwent emergency surgery in 2022. In late 2024, doctors reportedly found and removed a bone lesion feared to be cancerous. “Considering her illnesses, it is expected that she will be temporarily released on bail so that she can receive treatment,” Nili wrote.
The sentencing comes as Iran engages in tense nuclear negotiations with the United States. Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi struck a defiant tone at a diplomatic summit in Tehran, insisting Iran’s strength lies in its resistance to outside pressure. “I believe the secret of the Islamic Republic of Iran’s power lies in its ability to stand against bullying, domination and pressures from others,” he said. “They fear our atomic bomb, while we are not pursuing an atomic bomb. Our atomic bomb is the power to say no to the great powers. The secret of the Islamic Republic’s power is in the power to say no to the powers.”
Judiciary chief Gholamhossein Mohseni-Ejei also hinted at harsher sentences for critics of the state. “Look at some individuals who once were with the revolution and accompanied the revolution,” he said. “Today, what they are saying, what they are writing, what statements they issue, they are unfortunate, they are forlorn (and) they will face damage.”
Meanwhile, uncertainty surrounds the future of nuclear talks, with U.S. President Donald Trump suggesting Iran was eager to reach a deal. Iran has also announced planned rocket launches over Semnan province, underscoring rising tensions as diplomacy and domestic repression unfold side by side.
Discover more from LN247
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
