“Nobel Peace Prize Honors Iranian Activist Narges Mohammadi, Collected by Her Twin Children”
In a poignant ceremony at Oslo City Hall, the Nobel Peace Prize for 2023 was accepted by the twin teenage children of incarcerated Iranian activist Narges Mohammadi.
The Nobel Committee recognized Mohammadi’s decades-long dedication to advocating for women’s rights, democracy, and opposing the death penalty in Iran.
Children Stand In for Jailed Mother:
Ali and Kiana Rahmani, 17-year-old twins living in exile in Paris with their father, accepted the prestigious award on behalf of their mother, Narges Mohammadi, who is currently detained in a Tehran prison. The Nobel Peace Prize ceremony in Oslo was followed by the twins delivering the Nobel Peace Prize lecture in their mother’s name.
Activism Despite Adversity:
Narges Mohammadi, 51, earned the Nobel Peace Prize in October for her unwavering activism, despite facing numerous arrests and spending considerable time behind bars. She is recognized for her relentless efforts in championing women’s rights, democracy, and opposing the death penalty in Iran.
Speech Denouncing Iranian Government:
In a powerful speech delivered by her children, Narges Mohammadi denounced the ‘tyrannical and anti-women religious’ government in Iran.
She expressed gratitude to international media for conveying the voices of dissenters, protesters, and human rights defenders to the world.
Concerns for the Future:
Kiana Rahmani, in a somber note, expressed little hope of seeing her mother again. She acknowledged the enduring impact her mother’s values have had on her and emphasized the worthiness of the ongoing fight for those values.
Hunger Strike in Solidarity:
Mohammadi’s brother and husband revealed her intention to go on a hunger strike in solidarity with the Baha’i Faith religious minority in Iran.
Despite not being able to see his wife for 11 years, her husband, Taghi Rahmani, expressed the family’s commitment to the cause.
Legacy of Activism:
Narges Mohammadi played a pivotal role in the protests sparked by the death of Mahsa Amini last year. She is the 19th woman and the second Iranian woman, after Shirin Ebadi, to receive the Nobel Peace Prize. Notably, Mohammadi is the fifth laureate to be honored while detained.
Challenges and Optimism:
Having been arrested 13 times, sentenced to 31 years in prison, and enduring 154 lashes, Mohammadi’s struggle has been arduous.
Her children, who haven’t seen their mother for almost nine years, hold varying levels of optimism about her future.
As the Nobel Peace Prize recognizes Narges Mohammadi’s remarkable activism, her children stand as symbols of her enduring legacy, emphasizing the ongoing challenges faced by human rights defenders in Iran.
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