Narges Mohammadi's Health Deteriorates Sharply in Iranian Prison, Family Fears for Her Life

Key facts

• Narges Mohammadi, 54, was transferred to a hospital in Zanjan province on May 1, 2026, after losing consciousness.
• She suffered a suspected heart attack on March 24, 2026, and has been denied sustained medical care for over 130 days.
• Her brother Hamidreza Mohammadi, based in Norway, told the BBC he fears she is dying and wakes up 'waiting for the worst call.'
• The Zanjan Province Forensic Medicine Commission recommended a one-month suspension of her sentence for treatment, but the Zanjan Prosecutor's Office requires approval from Tehran.
• Mostafa Nili, her defense attorney, confirmed that judicial authorities continue to obstruct her medical treatment.
• Jorgen Watne Frydnes, head of the Nobel Peace Prize committee, said her life is at risk.
• Mohammadi was awarded the 2023 Nobel Peace Prize and was arrested in December 2023 for criticizing authorities.

A Sharp Decline Behind Bars

Narges Mohammadi, the 2023 Nobel Peace Prize laureate and a prominent Iranian human rights activist, was rushed from Zanjan Prison to a local hospital on Friday after a severe deterioration in her health. According to the Hana Human Rights Organization, she lost consciousness due to acute cardiac pain and severe fluctuations in blood pressure. She is now in the intensive care unit (CCU) under security measures. Her family described the transfer as a 'last-minute' action that may have come too late. Her brother Hamidreza, speaking from Norway, told the BBC's Newshour program that he fears she is dying, adding that he wakes up 'waiting for the worst call' he could get.

A History of Medical Neglect

Mohammadi had previously suffered a heart attack on March 24, 2026, while incarcerated. Despite more than 130 days passing since her renewed imprisonment, she has been denied access to sustained medical care. Her brother noted that she has a history of cardiac, lung, and blood pressure problems, including a pulmonary embolism and having undergone stenting and angiography. He stated that any treatment by doctors in Zanjan is 'effectively impossible' given her complex medical history. He called for her transfer to a hospital in Tehran where her own specialists, who have treated her before, can take over her care.

Judicial Obstruction and a Forensic Medicine Recommendation

The Zanjan Province Forensic Medicine Commission explicitly recommended a one-month suspension of her sentence to allow for medical treatment. However, the Zanjan Prosecutor's Office has made the execution of this medical order contingent upon receiving instructions from the Tehran Prosecutor's Office, an approach described as unlawful by sources close to the family. Mostafa Nili, Mohammadi's defense attorney, confirmed the news and announced that despite her alarming condition, judicial authorities continue to obstruct her medical treatment. The Hana Human Rights Organization holds the judiciary and security apparatus of the Islamic Republic responsible for any potential harm that may befall her.

International Calls for Action

Jorgen Watne Frydnes, head of the Nobel Peace Prize committee, told Reuters that Mohammadi's life is at risk, echoing the family's urgent plea for adequate medical care. The Narges Mohammadi Foundation, run by her family, stated on Friday that her transfer came 'after 140 days of arbitrary detention and the persistent denial of specialized healthcare.' Hamidreza Mohammadi criticized the Iranian government for deliberately preventing his sister from receiving the medical help she needs. 'I have no doubt that the regime has decided to just get rid of people like Narges and other activists,' he said.

A Pattern of Repression

Mohammadi was awarded the 2023 Nobel Peace Prize for her decades-long struggle for human rights in Iran. She was arrested in December 2023 for her criticism of the authorities. Her imprisonment and the denial of medical care are seen by activists as part of a broader pattern of repression against dissidents. The Hana Human Rights Organization issued a grave warning regarding Mohammadi's health and life, stating that preventing the implementation of the forensic medicine's recommendation is a clear manifestation of systematic torture and a blatant violation of international human rights conventions.

What Comes Next

As of Saturday, Mohammadi remains in the CCU in Zanjan, with her condition described as 'highly critical.' Sources close to the family informed Hana that she has completely lost consciousness at least twice in the past few hours. The delay in transferring her to Tehran could prove fatal, her brother warned. The international community, including the Nobel committee, is closely watching the situation. However, with the Iranian judiciary requiring approval from Tehran for the forensic medicine's recommendation, the outcome remains uncertain. The Hana organization holds the authorities directly responsible for any further deterioration.

A Life in the Balance

Narges Mohammadi's case has become a stark symbol of the Iranian government's treatment of political prisoners. Her brother's desperate plea for a transfer to Tehran underscores the urgency of the situation. The Nobel committee's intervention adds significant international pressure, but it remains to be seen whether it will sway the Iranian authorities. As the world watches, Mohammadi's life hangs in the balance, caught between a medical system that cannot treat her and a judicial system that refuses to let her go. The coming days will determine whether the calls for her transfer are heeded or whether her worst fears are realized.

The bottom line

• Narges Mohammadi, Nobel Peace Prize laureate, is in critical condition after losing consciousness in Zanjan Prison due to cardiac issues.
• She suffered a heart attack in March 2026 and has been denied proper medical care for over 130 days.
• A forensic medicine commission recommended a one-month sentence suspension for treatment, but the Zanjan Prosecutor's Office is stalling, requiring Tehran's approval.
• Her brother and the Nobel committee have called for her immediate transfer to a hospital in Tehran with her own specialists.
• The Hana Human Rights Organization accuses Iranian authorities of systematic torture and violating international conventions.
• The international community is applying pressure, but Mohammadi's life remains at risk due to judicial obstruction.