Nobel Peace Prize Laureate Narges Mohammadi Denied Life-Saving Treatment for Refusing Hijab: Iran's Ongoing Struggle for Women's Rights

Her selection for the Nobel Peace Prize came in the midst of widespread protests in Iran, sparked by the death of Mahsa Amini in custody. Amini, a 22-year-old woman, was arrested for allegedly violating the country's strict dress code for women. Narges Mohammadi has made it clear that she will not wear a hijab under any circumstances, even for medical treatment. In response, prison authorities have refused to transfer her to a hospital outside of Evin prison, despite her deteriorating health condition. Mohammadi suffers from heart and lung conditions, and her family has warned that her life is at risk.

To show their support, a group of women in Evin prison protested in the prison yard for two days and nights, demanding Mohammadi's transfer to a heart hospital. However, the prison warden stated that higher authorities had ordered that she could not be sent to the hospital without wearing a headscarf, leading to the cancellation of her transfer. On Monday, a medical team came to Evin prison's women's wing to examine Mohammadi and conduct an echocardiogram scan. The scan revealed severe blockages in two veins and high lung pressure, indicating an urgent need for a coronary angiogram and lung scan.

Despite the urgency of her medical condition, Mohammadi remains steadfast in her refusal to wear the forced hijab. Her family expressed their concern for her safety, as she is willing to risk her life to challenge the authoritarian religious regime and the control and repression imposed by the compulsory hijab. In addition to her fight against the oppression of women, Mohammadi expressed outrage over the alleged murder of 17-year-old Armita Garawand. Activists claim that Garawand was beaten by the Tehran morality police for not wearing a headscarf, an accusation vehemently denied by the authorities.

The refusal of Iranian prison authorities to allow Narges Mohammadi's hospital transfer based on her refusal to wear the hijab highlights the ongoing struggle for women's rights and freedom of expression in Iran. As the 2023 Nobel Peace Prize winner, Mohammadi's fight against oppression serves as a powerful reminder of the challenges faced by women in Iran and the importance of continued international support and solidarity.