Saturday 13 / December / 2025
Iranian security forces "violently" arrested Nobel Peace laureate Narges Mohammadi from a memorial service, her supporters said on Friday.
Mohammadi was arrested at the memorial service of Khosrow Alikordi, a human rights lawyer recently found dead in disputed circumstances.
Her Paris-based husband, Taghi Rahmani, said on X that the arrest took place in the city of Mashhad.
The governor in Mashhad later confirmed the detention, according to the Khorasan online portal. He spoke of "temporary detentions" ordered by the Public Prosecutor's Office. The reason provided was slogans that violated social order.
The Norwegian Nobel Committee said Mohammadi was arrested in a "brutal" manner and must be immediately released.
What do we know about Mohammadi's arrest?
The Narges Foundation announced Mohammadi's arrest on X.
"The Narges Foundation has received credible information that Narges Mohammadi was violently detained by security and police forces during the seventh-day memorial ceremony for Khosrow Alikordi an hour ago," the post read.
The foundation added that other human rights activists were also arrested, citing "unconfirmed reports," including Sepideh Qolian.
"The Narges Foundation calls for the immediate and unconditional release of all detained individuals who were attending a memorial ceremony to pay their respects and demonstrate solidarity," a statement read. "Their arrest constitutes a serious violation of fundamental freedoms."
The Norwegian Nobel Committee also condemned Mohammadi's arrest.
"The Norwegian Nobel Committee is deeply concerned by today's brutal arrest of Narges Mohammadi alongside a number of other activists," the committee said in a statement, describing the Iranian activist as "a staunch defender of human rights, freedom of expression and democratic participation in Iran."
