Dear Readers,

Today, I want to share the extraordinary and heart-wrenching story of Narges Mohammadi, an Iranian Nobel Peace Prize winner, who continues to fight for democracy, human rights, and peace despite enduring horrific conditions in prison. Her journey speaks volumes about the courage it takes to stand against tyranny and oppression, even when the cost is personal suffering.

Since receiving the Nobel Peace Prize in October 2023, Narges Mohammadi has faced increasingly harsh restrictions in Tehran’s Evin Prison, where she is held alongside other political prisoners. In her words: "I haven’t heard my children’s voices in three years." Since 2021, she has been denied contact with her twins, Kiana and Ali, who live in Paris. She has also been denied medical care for a serious heart condition. "Despite a cardiologist’s order for an urgent coronary angiography, I was not allowed to leave. The regime's strategy is to deteriorate my physical health."

Narges shares a cramped, monitored cell with twenty other women, surrounded by cameras and microphones. These women are not just prisoners—they are freedom fighters, silenced for demanding basic human rights. Yet, they continue to resist in small but powerful ways. Narges tells us: "In the small yard of Evin, where wild pear trees grow, we smoke a few cigarettes, talk about our children and distant loves, and sing songs of freedom."

Her spirit remains unbroken, even in these suffocating conditions. Her message is clear: "For me, peace is not simply the absence of war, but the liberation from every form of tyranny, domination, discrimination, threat, and terror." She argues that peace, particularly in the Middle East, cannot last without democracy and freedom. "The achievement of democracy, the end of all forms of tyranny, human rights, and the end of gender apartheid are the preliminary conditions for peace that can last."

Narges knows the horrors of war intimately. "The war between Saddam Hussein and Khomeini lasted eight devastating years. The days of my adolescence were spent in fear of the bombs falling on my beloved city, Zanjan. That fear did not just settle in my eyes and skin, but penetrated my bones—it has never left."

In light of the ongoing violence in the region, Narges continues to speak out. She condemns the actions of those in power who fuel conflict. "The dark shadow of war looms over our beloved Iran once again. I hate war. The perpetrators are not only despised by the majority of Iranians but are also condemned by the history of humanity."

While some suggest that war could accelerate the fall of the Islamic Republic, Narges firmly believes that change must come from the Iranian people. "The Iranian people, through awareness, struggle, and their costly efforts, want democracy, freedom, and equality. Until the people achieve a level of effective collective participation in government, society, and personal life, the struggle will continue."

Her Nobel Peace Prize, awarded for her relentless advocacy for women’s rights and democracy, came at a great personal cost. "I have been subjected to even greater restrictions and more severe security conditions. When my father died on March 6, not only was I barred from attending the funeral, but I wasn’t even allowed to call my family." The regime’s efforts to isolate her and weaken her resolve are clear, but they have not succeeded.

Narges is also a vocal supporter of the Woman, Life, Freedom movement, which she believes is far from over. "The movement has not only clearly undermined the regime’s legitimacy, but has also strengthened the foundations of democratic life in society. The Islamic Republic does not represent Iranian society today at any level, not even religious."

Her words are a call to action for all of us who value freedom and human dignity. Narges Mohammadi’s voice, even from behind prison walls, is a beacon of hope for those fighting against oppression. Her story reminds us that true peace can only be achieved when every person is free from tyranny, discrimination, and fear.

Let us continue to raise awareness of her fight and amplify the voices of those like her who are willing to sacrifice everything for freedom and democracy.

With determination and solidarity,
S.A. Sterling

Source: Greta Privitera, "Narges Mohammadi dal carcere a Teheran: 'Dopo il Nobel ancora più restrizioni: non sento i miei figli da 3 anni. La pace non potrà durare senza democrazia,'" Corriere della Sera, 8 October 2024.