Iran has sentenced Narges Mohammadi, the jailed 2023 Nobel Peace Prize laureate, to more than seven additional years in prison, compounding an already lengthy term that has drawn sharp condemnation from human rights advocates and the European Union. The new ruling, issued by a branch of the Mashhad Revolutionary Court, was announced Sunday by her lawyer.
Mohammadi, 53, was convicted on charges of “gathering and collusion” and “propaganda activities against the Republic.” The latest sentence brings her total consecutive prison time to more than 17 years, with cumulative sentences amounting to 44 years. Authorities also imposed a two-year travel ban and a two-year internal exile within Iran.
The decision comes as Iran faces mounting international criticism over its treatment of dissenters, including a surge in executions and crackdown on demonstrators.
A Nobel Laureate Behind Bars
Mohammadi received the Nobel Peace Prize in 2023 while incarcerated, recognized for her advocacy for women’s rights and the abolition of the death penalty in Iran. Despite global acclaim, Iranian authorities have repeatedly prosecuted her for activities they characterize as threats to national security.
Her lawyer said the new sentence was handed down by a branch of the Mashhad Revolutionary Court. The charges mirror allegations long used by Iranian prosecutors against activists and journalists.
The Narges Mohammadi Foundation warned that her continued imprisonment “poses a life-threatening risk and constitutes a breach of human rights laws.”
Health Concerns Intensify
The ruling has heightened fears about Mohammadi’s health. She has a history of heart attacks, chest pain, hypertension, and spinal disc problems. She was hospitalized in early February after her condition deteriorated.
In December 2025, she was arrested for what authorities called “provocative statements.” Reports indicate she was physically assaulted during detention and required medical care. She last contacted her lawyer on December 14, 2025.
Following the latest sentencing, Mohammadi ended a six-day hunger strike. Supporters say her incarceration is akin to placing a fragile vessel under mounting pressure — each added year increasing the strain on her health.
International Condemnation Mounts
The European Union said it was “appalled by the latest sentencing to yet another prison term of Iranian human rights defender and Nobel Peace Prize laureate Narges Mohammadi,” calling it another example of “systematic repression against human rights defenders and women’s rights activists in Iran.” The EU reiterated Iran’s obligations under the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, which guarantees freedoms of expression, association and peaceful assembly.
In January 2026, 114 Nobel laureates issued a joint statement condemning Iran’s human rights record. “We particularly strongly condemn the use of lethal weapons and the opening of fire on Iranian demonstrators, ordered by the regime’s Supreme Leader,” the statement said.
Among the signatories were José Ramos-Horta, the President of Timor-Leste; Lech Wałęsa, former President of Poland; economist Daron Acemoglu; and Shirin Ebadi, the Iranian Nobel laureate and human rights advocate. Ebadi has previously stated, “In Iran, laws are based on the religion chosen by the state, rather than reflecting the will of the people.”
Crackdown Amid Protest and Executions
The sentence unfolds against a backdrop of widespread unrest. Nationwide protests intensified in late 2025, fueled by allegations of repression, corruption and soaring inflation. Human rights groups report that more than 2,200 executions were carried out in 2025 alone, including 403 in December, marking one of the deadliest monthly tallies in recent years.
Authorities have framed the measures as necessary to preserve national security. Critics describe them as a sweeping campaign to silence dissent.
No Direct Impact on Malta
While Mohammadi’s case has reverberated across diplomatic circles and human rights forums, no direct implications for Malta have been identified. The developments remain confined to Iran’s domestic political and judicial landscape.
Still, as a member of the European Union, Malta aligns with the bloc’s broader stance emphasizing human rights protections and adherence to international law. The case underscores the widening divide between Iran and Western governments at a time of heightened geopolitical tension.
For Mohammadi, the additional sentence signals not just more years behind bars, but an intensifying struggle between a state determined to suppress dissent and a movement that continues to demand change. Her fate now stands as both a legal matter inside Iran’s courts and a moral flashpoint on the international stage.
