May 3, 2026. The Free Iran Scholars Network unequivocally condemns the deliberate denial of essential medical care to Narges Mohammadi, a Nobel Peace Prize laureate and one of Iran’s most prominent defenders of human rights.
The refusal to provide urgently needed medical treatment while she remains imprisoned in Zanjan constitutes not only a grave violation of fundamental human rights, but also a clear breach of international legal obligations, including the prohibition against cruel, inhuman, and degrading treatment. The systematic deprivation of healthcare for political prisoners reflects a broader pattern of weaponizing medical neglect as a tool of repression.
We further urge the United Nations, its relevant Special Rapporteurs, and the international human rights community to take urgent and coordinated action. This includes sustained diplomatic pressure, public accountability measures, and the activation of international mechanisms to address such ongoing and systemic violations.
The continued imprisonment and mistreatment of women activists in Iran underscores a central reality: the regime’s survival depends on silencing those who challenge its authority, particularly women who stand at the forefront of Iran’s democratic movement.
Silence enables repression. Coordinated international pressure can help save lives.
Free Iran Scholars Network
May 2026