Nobel Peace Prize for the Iranian Narges Mohammadi, empty chair on the stage: the award received by the activist's children

December 10, 2023, 1:37 p.m

The awards ceremony took place at Oslo City Hall while the woman is in prison in Iran

At Oslo City Hall, during the handover ceremony Nobel Peace Prizea chair on the stage remains empty: award-winning Iranian activist Narges MohammadiIn fact, he has been in prison in Iran since 2021. The award was accepted by his 17-year-old twin children, Kiana and Ali, who read the acceptance speech written by their mother. Mohammadi, a strong opponent of the compulsory wearing of the hijab for women and the death penalty in the country, condemned the “tyrannical and misogynistic religious regime” of Iran.

“Narges Mohammadi was not released to come to Oslo to accept the Nobel Peace Prize. However, I am sure that her thoughts are with us at this moment. She is represented here on stage by her children and by a portrait behind her empty chair. “She asked us to use this special photo that expresses the way she wants to live her life: looking happy in colorful clothes, baring her hair and staring straight at us,” she said. Berit Reiss-Andersen, president of the Norwegian Nobel Committee, said at the opening of the ceremony, referring to a photo of her smiling.

“The Norwegian Nobel Committee has decided to award the 2023 Nobel Peace Prize to Narges Mohammadi for her long and courageous fight against the oppression of women in Iran and for her fight for the freedom of all,” she recalled Reiss-Andersen. “By focusing on women’s rights,” added the president of the Norwegian Nobel Committee, “Narges Mohammadi underlines the universal right to equality. She has spoken out against restrictions for women such as the requirement to wear the hijab and other covering clothing, as well as bans on sports, dance and exercise in general. In all areas of life, the rights of Iranian women are inferior to those of men.”

Mohammadi's message was spread by his daughter “Iranian society needs global support, and you, journalists and media workers, are our greatest and most important allies in the difficult fight against the destructive tyranny of the government of the Islamic Republic. I sincerely thank you for your commitment, for everything you do.” “We have done for ourselves,” Mohammadi said in the message published by his daughter on Saturday. “I am among the millions of proud and resilient Iranian women who have stood up against injustice/oppression, oppression, discrimination and tyranny. I remember the anonymous and courageous women who lived a life of resistance despite the ruthless oppression in various areas.”

“Tyrannical and misogynistic religious regime” And again: “I am writing this message from behind the high, cold walls of a prison. I am a woman from the Middle East, from a region that, although heir to a rich civilization, is currently caught in war and plunder.” Flames of terrorism and extremism. I am an Iranian woman who is proud and honored to have contributed to this civilization and who today is a victim of oppression by a tyrannical and misogynistic religious regime.”

“My mother will always live in my heart” Kiana Rahmani said she has little hope of seeing her mother again: “Maybe in 30 or 40 years I will see her again, but I think I will never see her again. But that doesn't matter because my mother will always live there.” My heart, values ​​worth fighting for.

The hunger strike Mohammadi's brother and husband told reporters in Oslo that they planned to go on hunger strike in solidarity with Iran's Baha'i religious minority. The husband, Taghi, had previously stated that he had not seen his wife for eleven years and that the children had not seen their mother for seven years.

Protests in Iran over the death of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini Mohammadi played a leading role in the protests sparked by the death of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini last year while she was in the custody of morality police for allegedly violating the country's strict headscarf law that forces women to wear them , to cover their hair and entire body.

The 19th woman to win the Nobel Peace Prize Narges Mohammadi is the 19th woman to receive the Nobel Peace Prize and the second Iranian after human rights activist Shirin Ebadi, awarded in 2003. It is the fifth time in the prize's 122-year history that the Nobel Prize has been awarded to a person in prison or under house arrest. The other Nobel Prizes will be awarded next Sunday in separate ceremonies in Stockholm, Sweden.

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