Imprisoned Nobel laureate Narges Mohammadi hospitalized after cardiac crisis, brother says she is dying

Key facts

• Narges Mohammadi, 54, was awarded the 2023 Nobel Peace Prize.
• She was arrested on December 12, 2024, and sentenced to more than seven years in prison.
• She suffered two episodes of complete loss of consciousness and a severe cardiac crisis on Friday.
• Her brother Hamidreza Mohammadi said she had a heart attack and is suffering from low blood pressure.
• She has a history of pulmonary embolism, cardiac stenting, and angiography.
• The Narges Mohammadi Foundation said she was transferred after 140 days of arbitrary detention and denial of healthcare.
• Nobel committee head Jorgen Watne Frydnes said her life is at risk.
• Her brother accused the Iranian government of deliberately denying her medical care.

A last-minute transfer as health deteriorates

Narges Mohammadi, the imprisoned Iranian human rights activist and 2023 Nobel Peace Prize laureate, has been transferred from Zanjan Prison to a local hospital after a sharp deterioration in her health, her family and foundation announced on Friday. The 54-year-old suffered two episodes of complete loss of consciousness and a severe cardiac crisis, prompting prison doctors to determine that her condition could no longer be managed on-site. Her brother Hamidreza Mohammadi, speaking from Norway, told the BBC that he fears his sister is dying and wakes up "waiting for the worst call" he could get. He described the transfer as a "last-minute" action that may come too late. "I have no doubt that the regime has decided to just get rid of people like Narges and other activists," he said.

A history of medical neglect

Mohammadi's health problems are not new. She has a history of cardiac, lung, and blood pressure issues, including a pulmonary embolism and previous stenting and angiography procedures. In late March, she was found unconscious by fellow inmates after a suspected heart attack, but prison officials refused to transfer her to a hospital at that time, according to her brother. Her lawyers, who visited her a few days after the March incident, described her as pale, underweight, and needing a nurse to help her walk. The Narges Mohammadi Foundation stated that the recent transfer came "after 140 days of arbitrary detention and the persistent denial of specialised healthcare."

Calls for transfer to Tehran specialists

Hamidreza Mohammadi has urged that his sister be transferred to a hospital in Tehran, where her own specialists, who have treated her previously, can take over her care. He argued that any treatment by doctors in Zanjan is "effectively impossible" given her complex medical history. The call was echoed by Jorgen Watne Frydnes, head of the Nobel Peace Prize committee, who told Reuters that Mohammadi's life is at risk. The Nobel committee had previously condemned the "ongoing life-threatening mistreatment" of Mohammadi in a statement in February.

Arrest and imprisonment

Mohammadi was arrested on December 12, 2024, during a visit to the eastern Iranian city of Mashhad. In February, she was sentenced to more than seven years in prison, with six of those years for the accusation of "gathering and collusion to commit crimes," according to her lawyer. Her family has said that her health worsened in part because of an alleged beating during her arrest, in which multiple men hit and kicked her in her side, head, and neck. The Iranian government has not commented on the alleged attack. Mohammadi had been imprisoned for her criticism of the authorities prior to her Nobel award.

International outcry and stakes

The deteriorating health of the Nobel laureate has sparked international concern. The Nobel committee's head has publicly stated that her life is at risk, and her brother has accused the Iranian regime of deliberately denying her medical help. The case underscores the ongoing repression of activists in Iran, where medical care for political prisoners is often withheld as a tool of coercion. Mohammadi's imprisonment and health crisis come at a time of heightened tensions between Iran and the West, with the United States recently imposing new tariffs and engaging in nuclear negotiations. Her plight has become a symbol of the regime's crackdown on dissent.

What comes next

As of Saturday, Mohammadi remains in a hospital in Zanjan province, with her condition described as critical. Her brother has called for immediate intervention to secure her transfer to Tehran, but it remains unclear whether the authorities will comply. The Nobel committee and human rights organizations are monitoring the situation closely. The Iranian government has not responded to the allegations of medical neglect. If her condition continues to deteriorate, the case could further strain Iran's international relations and galvanize opposition movements within the country.

The bottom line

• Narges Mohammadi, 2023 Nobel Peace Prize laureate, is in critical condition after a cardiac crisis and two episodes of unconsciousness.
• She was transferred from prison to a local hospital only after prison doctors deemed her condition unmanageable, following 140 days of denied healthcare.
• Her brother and the Nobel committee have called for her transfer to a Tehran hospital with her own specialists, but the Iranian government has not acted.
• Mohammadi has a history of serious medical conditions, including pulmonary embolism and cardiac stenting, and was allegedly beaten during her arrest.
• Her imprisonment and health crisis highlight the Iranian regime's use of medical denial as a tool against political activists.
• International pressure is mounting, but it is unclear if it will lead to improved medical care or her release.