- By Shivangi Sharma
- Mon, 09 Feb 2026 12:00 AM (IST)
- Source:JND
Iran has handed a fresh prison sentence to Nobel Peace Prize laureate and prominent human rights activist Narges Mohammadi, a move that has intensified international criticism as Tehran attempts to negotiate with the United States over its nuclear programme. Mohammadi’s supporters cited her lawyer, Mostafa Nili, who said he had spoken to her and confirmed the sentence on X. According to Nili, a court in the northeastern city of Mashhad handed down the verdict on Saturday.
“She has been sentenced to six years in prison for ‘gathering and collusion to commit crimes’ and one and a half years for propaganda-related charges, along with a two-year travel ban,” Nili wrote. He added that Mohammadi had also been sentenced to two years of internal exile to the city of Khosf in South Khorasan province, around 740 km southeast of Tehran.
Under Iranian law, prison terms are served concurrently, meaning the longest sentence applies. Nili said the verdict is not final and can still be appealed, expressing hope that Mohammadi may be temporarily released on bail due to her fragile health. Iranian authorities have not officially acknowledged the ruling.
Hunger Strike And Health Concerns
Supporters say Mohammadi has been on a hunger strike since February 2, protesting what she describes as unlawful detention, harsh prison conditions, and limited access to her family and lawyers. Her family and rights groups have voiced alarm, citing chronic heart and lung conditions, high blood pressure, and a history of heart attacks.
Mohammadi was rearrested in December 2025 while attending a memorial ceremony in Mashhad for Khosrow Alikordi, a 46-year-old human rights lawyer who died under suspicious circumstances. Footage from the event showed her shouting slogans and demanding justice. Following her arrest, she was reportedly held in solitary confinement and hospitalised twice for head and neck injuries.
Long History Of Activism
Now 53, Mohammadi has spent much of the past 25 years in and out of prison for campaigning against the death penalty and opposing Iran’s mandatory dress code for women. She has not seen her twin children, who live in Paris, since 2015.
Awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 2023 for her fight against the oppression of women in Iran, Mohammadi continues her activism from behind bars, having completed her autobiography and begun work on a book documenting abuse of women in Iranian detention.