The adolescent twins of Iranian activist Narges Mohammadi have stood in her stead to accept the Nobel Peace Prize awarded in recognition of her unwavering dedication to combating the
suppression of women in Iran.
Mohammadi, presently serving a ten-year sentence in Tehran, was honored for her tireless efforts in championing women's rights. Despite her confinement, her impassioned words, conveyed through her children, resonated at the ceremony as she condemned Iran's "tyrannical" regime. "The Iranian people," she asserted, "will triumph over repression and authoritarianism through unwavering perseverance."
The symbolic awarding took place in Oslo, accompanied by the presentation of other prestigious Nobel prizes celebrating literature, scientific advancements, and economics.
A longstanding human rights advocate, Mohammadi, 51, has been a pivotal figure in Iran's human rights landscape. Her current imprisonment marks the culmination of numerous arrests, convictions, and a total sentencing of 31 years since 2010.
Her absence from the ceremony was palpably marked by an empty chair situated between her resolute children, Kiana and Ali Rahmani, who eloquently conveyed their mother's message. In a speech penned behind the confines of her prison walls, Mohammadi commended the youth of Iran for transforming public spaces into arenas of civil resistance, referencing the recent protests following the tragic death of Mahsa Amini.
Despite physical confinement, Mohammadi's spirit and commitment shone through her words, praising the unwavering resilience and non-violent strategies embraced by Iranians in their ongoing struggle for justice.
The Rahmani twins received the esteemed prize, which includes a significant monetary award, in a ceremony attended by dignitaries in Oslo's City Hall. Their mother's absence was keenly felt, encapsulated by the poignant presence of the empty chair.
Recounting Mohammadi's sacrifices, her husband, Taghi Rahmani, residing in Paris due to political exile, shared her heartfelt wish for her children's forgiveness for not being present as a mother. He highlighted her involvement among imprisoned human rights activists boldly opposing the oppressive policies of the Iranian government.
Recently, Mohammadi embarked on a hunger strike within Tehran's notorious Evin prison, further underscoring her unwavering commitment to the cause despite her confinement.
Iran's foreign ministry dismissed the Nobel recognition as "biased" and aligned with the "interventionist and anti-Iran policies of some European countries."
Simultaneously, other laureates were honored: Norwegian author Jon Fosse received the Nobel Prize for Literature, while three scientists were awarded the Nobel Prize for Chemistry for their pioneering work in quantum dots. Additionally, the Nobel Prize in Physics was conferred upon Pierre Agostini, Ferenc Krausz, and Anne L'Huillier for groundbreaking research enabling the study of rapid processes within atoms using extremely short pulses of light. Photo by BBC Persian, Wikimedia commons.