Imprisoned Iranian Nobel Peace Prize laureate Narges Mohammadi was transferred to a hospital in Zanjan on Friday following a severe cardiac crisis, according to a foundation run by her family.
The foundation reported a "catastrophic deterioration" in Mohammadi's health. The movement to the medical facility followed a heart attack and two instances of "complete" unconsciousness, the outlet reported.
Her lawyer, Mostafa Nili, stated that Mohammadi initially resisted the hospital transfer. He noted she declined after the first fainting spell due to warnings from medics that the Zanjan hospital lacked the necessary equipment to treat her.
However, a second collapse and further physical decline forced the transfer. Nili added that while her cardiac issues are severe, addressing her neurological state is currently the primary clinical priority.
International calls for medical intervention
The Norwegian Nobel Committee has issued an urgent plea to Iranian authorities. Committee chair Jorgen Watne Frydnes urged the government to transfer Mohammadi to her dedicated medical team in Tehran.
"Without such treatment, her life remains at risk," Frydnes said. "Her life is now in the hands of the Iranian authorities."
Mohammadi, 53, was arrested in December in the eastern Iranian city of Mashhad. The arrest occurred after she spoke against the country’s clerical authorities during a funeral ceremony, according to France 24.
Her supporters had warned of her declining health for months. In late March, they reported she had suffered a suspected heart attack but had not received adequate medical care.
Her family described the recent hospital transfer as a "last-minute action" that might have arrived too late, the foundation's statement noted.
Mohammadi won the Nobel Peace Prize in 2023 for her decades-long campaign against capital punishment and mandatory dress codes for women in Iran. Over the last 25 years, she has faced repeated trials and periods of imprisonment.
