Narges Mohammadi, an Iranian, is awarded the Nobel Peace Prize.

Narges Mohammadi has been awarded the 2023 Nobel Peace Prize for her courageous advocacy against the mistreatment of women in Iran and her dedication to advancing human rights and liberty.

The Nobel Committee stated that this year’s Peace Prize is also an acknowledgement of the numerous individuals who protested against the discriminatory and oppressive policies towards women by the theocratic regime in the previous year.

Mohammadi has been detained by the Iranian government on 13 separate occasions, found guilty on five occasions, and given a combined prison sentence of 31 years. She is currently still incarcerated.

The committee stated that she is advocating for freedom of speech and the right for individuals to be independent. She is also fighting against regulations that force women to hide and cover their bodies. The committee emphasized that the demands for freedom expressed by protestors are not just limited to women, but to everyone in the population.

The Nobel committee’s chairperson, Berit Reiss-Andersen, stated that the committee’s intention was to convey a message to the Iranian government to pay attention to their citizens. She also mentioned that selecting Mohammadi as this year’s recipient is primarily a tribute to the entire movement in Iran, with Mohammadi as its respected leader.

NATO boss Jens Stoltenberg congratulated Mohammadi on X (formerly Twitter), saying “you have been brave in your fight against the oppression,” and adding that “human rights and freedom for all are fundamental for peace.”

The Nobel Peace Prize is given to those who have made significant efforts towards promoting peace and minimizing the presence of military forces, as well as promoting peace conferences. This criteria was established by Alfred Nobel, the founder of the award.

In the previous year, the prize was given to two non-profit organizations, Memorial from Russia and the Center for Civil Liberties from Ukraine, as well as activist Ales Bialiatski from Belarus. They were recognized for their efforts in advocating for the right to speak out against authority and safeguarding the basic rights of individuals.