Geneva – February 2026 – Women Journalists Without Chains strongly condemns the ruling issued on February 7, 2026, by Branch One of the Revolutionary Court in Mashhad against Nobel Peace Prize laureate and prominent human rights defender Narges Mohammadi.

The court sentenced her to seven and a half years in prison and imposed additional punitive measures, including two years of internal exile in the remote city of Khusf and a two-year travel ban.

Narges Mohammadi was prosecuted on vague and politically motivated charges—six years for “assembly and collusion against national security” and 18 months for “propaganda against the regime.” These accusations stem solely from her peaceful human rights advocacy and her participation in a memorial service held in December for the late lawyer Khosro Alikordi. The verdict reflects Iran’s entrenched practice of criminalizing peaceful expression and civic engagement.

This ruling comes amid a sweeping and violent crackdown intensified by Iranian authorities since early 2026. Security forces have met mass protests with lethal force, leaving thousands dead or injured, and have carried out widespread arrests targeting human rights defenders, journalists, and civil society activists. This escalation signals a deliberate policy aimed at dismantling independent voices and extinguishing public dissent.

Mohammadi’s prosecution raises grave concerns for her health and safety. She has suffered severe health deterioration and has been on hunger strike since February 2 in protest of harsh detention conditions and the denial of adequate medical care. Imposing a lengthy prison term and internal exile under such circumstances constitutes deliberate cruelty and places her life at serious risk. Targeting a globally recognized champion of women’s rights and human dignity reveals the authorities’ determination to silence even the most powerful symbols of peaceful resistance.

Tawakkol Karman, Chair of Women Journalists Without Chains and Nobel Peace Prize laureate, stated:

“This vindictive and cruel verdict against my colleague Narges Mohammadi is not merely an unjust judicial act—it is a declaration of moral bankruptcy by the Iranian regime in the face of a woman whose resilience prison bars have only strengthened. Exiling her within her own country and denying her the most basic human and medical rights is a desperate attempt to silence every free voice that refuses tyranny.”

The ruling constitutes a flagrant violation of Iran’s obligations under international law. It breaches Articles 19 and 21 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, which guarantee freedom of expression and peaceful assembly. It also contravenes the UN Declaration on Human Rights Defenders, which affirms the right of individuals to promote and protect human rights without fear of reprisal. Furthermore, Mohammadi’s detention conditions and the denial of necessary medical care violate the Nelson Mandela Rules—the United Nations Standard Minimum Rules for the Treatment of Prisoners.

Karman added:

“Our organization watches with grave concern the escalating and bloody crackdown unleashed by the Iranian authorities since the beginning of 2026 against protesters and human rights defenders. The silence of the international community in the face of these systematic crimes serves as a green light for the continued violation of fundamental rights and freedoms.”

She continued:

“I call on the United Nations, international organizations, and democratic governments to move beyond routine statements and adopt concrete measures against officials responsible for these sham trials. Narges Mohammadi represents Iran’s voice to the global conscience. Her freedom is a test of the world’s commitment to liberty and human dignity. We will not cease demanding her immediate release and the release of all prisoners of conscience in Iran.”

Women Journalists Without Chains calls for:

·        The immediate and unconditional annulment of the February 7 verdict and all prior rulings related to Mohammadi’s peaceful human rights activities, and her prompt release.

·        An end to the violent repression of protesters and their families; the immediate release of all individuals detained in connection with protests since late December 2025; and full guarantees of access to legal counsel of their choosing and adequate medical care.

·       Immediate authorization for the UN Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Iran to visit the country and conduct independent investigations without restriction.

·       The cessation of internal exile, arbitrary detention, and other punitive measures used to silence human rights defenders and journalists.