Iranian Nobel laureate suffered suspected heart attack in prison, family says

The sibling of Iranian Nobel Peace Prize recipient Narges Mohammadi has raised alarm over her deteriorating condition, claiming she experienced a suspected cardiac arrest while held in a detention center in north-western Iran. Hamidreza Mohammadi, currently in Norway, shared these concerns with the BBC, revealing that the 53-year-old human rights advocate was discovered unconscious in her bed by fellow prisoners at Zanjan Prison last week.

Despite her known history of heart and lung issues, as well as severe blood pressure instability, officials declined to move her to a hospital. Her family has called for her immediate release to undergo comprehensive medical checks, emphasizing the heightened stress caused by strikes and explosions near the facility since the US-Israeli conflict began a month ago.

“This war has had a terrible effect on prisoners in Iran. If the prison gets hit, and prisoners need immediate medical attention, they will not get anything and their lives are in danger,” Hamidreza Mohammadi stated during an interview with the BBC’s Newsday programme.

Mohammadi, who serves as vice-president of the Defenders of Human Rights Center, was awarded the 2023 Nobel Peace Prize for her efforts to combat gender-based oppression and champion human rights in Iran. Over the past decade, she has spent significant time in detention, including a 13-year sentence imposed in 2021 for charges of “propaganda activity against the state” and “collusion against state security,” which she contested.

In December 2024, she received temporary release from Tehran’s Evin Prison on medical grounds. However, she was re-arrested in Mashhad the following month after delivering a speech at a memorial event for another human rights defender. Her family reported she was hospitalized after being assaulted during her capture.

Protests erupted across the country following her arrest, resulting in over 6,508 fatalities and 53,000 detentions, according to the US-based Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA). In early February, Mohammadi was sentenced to an additional seven and a half years in prison by a Revolutionary Court, after being convicted of “gathering and collusion” and “propaganda activities.” She was then transferred to Zanjan Prison without prior notice, with limited access to her family since.

During a recent visit, her legal team and a family member were permitted to see her under heightened monitoring. The Free Narges Coalition described her condition as “extremely poor,” noting her pale and frail appearance, along with noticeable weight loss. Inmates reported she was found “unconscious in her bed, with her eyes rolled back” and remained unresponsive for over an hour.

“Despite this medical emergency and clear signs of a heart attack, authorities refused to transfer Mohammadi to a hospital or allow her to consult a specialist,” the coalition stated. “We know her medical history—she has heart problems and pulmonary issues. She must be in a hospital.”

Hamidreza Mohammadi also highlighted ongoing health complications, including debilitating headaches, nausea, and double vision, which were reportedly caused by the violent arrest. He cited Iranian law, arguing that during wartime, prisoners not posing a threat to society should be granted temporary release for medical care. “Not only have they not done this, but they have denied all political prisoners necessary medical attention, using ‘it is wartime’ as an excuse,” he added.