Iranian human rights activist and Nobel Peace Prize laureate Nargis Mohammadi announced in a message leaked from the prison where she is held and broadcast by Swedish television today, Monday, that she will continue her struggle for human rights even if it costs her life. According to Swedish television, Nargis wrote in her message: "Prison, psychological torture, continuous solitary confinement, and consecutive sentences will not stop me. I will defend freedom and equality, even if my life is the price."
Swedish television reported that the message was written in response to inquiries that were smuggled into the prison through intermediaries, but did not disclose further details. Nargis Mohammadi started a hunger strike in November, protesting what she described as the prison's failure to provide her with medical care.
According to brief comments aired by Swedish television, which did not provide any information about her health condition, Nargis expressed that she misses her two children, Kiana and Ali, very much. She wrote: "These days, when new prisoners talk about their visits, it has been more than eight years since I saw my children." Kiana told Swedish television that the family has not been in direct contact with their mother for a year and nine months. Kiana (17 years old) added, "Before that we used to talk on the phone occasionally, but that stopped."
According to the Nobel Foundation, the Nobel Prize ceremonies for this year are scheduled to take place on December 10 in Oslo and Stockholm, where Nargis Mohammadi's son and daughter will represent her. Nargis is serving multiple sentences in the notorious Evin prison in Tehran on charges including spreading propaganda against the Islamic Republic.
