Imprisoned Iranian Nobel laureate Narges Mohammadi in critical condition

Hospitalization and Current Condition

Narges Mohammadi, a 2023 Nobel Peace Prize laureate and Iranian human rights activist, has been hospitalized in critical condition after collapsing and losing consciousness in prison. Mohammadi, 54, is currently being treated in the intensive care unit of a hospital in the city of Zanjan.

According to her lawyer, Mostafa Nili, Mohammadi experienced severe fluctuations in blood pressure that went "very high and low" before she suddenly fainted. While a prison doctor initially administered medication, Mohammadi refused the transfer to a hospital until she could see her cardiologist. After fainting a second time, a neurologist ordered her immediate transfer to the hospital, where she was admitted to the cardiac care unit.

Despite the transfer, Nili reports that her blood pressure continues to fluctuate severely. The Narges Mohammadi Foundation stated that her blood pressure had fluctuated dangerously for three days prior to the transfer and showed no response to medication. The foundation further noted that Mohammadi has suffered a weight loss of more than 19kg and is experiencing recurring pain.

Medical History and Prison Conditions

The current health crisis follows a suspected heart attack on March 24, when fellow inmates found Mohammadi unconscious. A prison clinic doctor later informed her that she had likely suffered a heart attack, and she has experienced breathing difficulties and chest pain since that time. Her family has stated that her condition has deteriorated since the March incident.

Additional health complications are attributed to physical violence. Mohammadi's family stated in February that her health was worsening due to a beating she endured during her arrest in December, during which multiple men hit and kicked her in the head, neck, and side. In February, the Nobel committee issued a statement condemning the "ongoing life-threatening mistreatment" of Mohammadi.

Legal and Medical Disputes

Mohammadi is currently serving an 18-year prison sentence in Iran. Following her recent collapse, a medical official in Zanjan recommended a one-month suspension of her sentence to allow for necessary treatment. However, the public prosecutor in Zanjan referred the matter to his superiors rather than granting the suspension.

Furthermore, judicial authorities have denied requests from Mohammadi's family and legal counsel to transfer her to a better-equipped hospital in Tehran. The family seeks the transfer so she can be treated by her longtime cardiologist. The Narges Mohammadi Foundation described the Friday transfer to the Zanjan hospital as a "desperate, ‘last-minute’ action" that may have been too late to address her critical needs.

Cardiology specialists familiar with the case have informed the family that Mohammadi requires urgent, specialized medical care due to a complex cardiac history. The foundation has asserted that the lack of access to appropriate treatment is placing her life in immediate danger.