Narges Mohammadi says Iran repression has risen since war began, but resistance wave persists

September 20, 2026 at 01:51 AM2 min

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Nobel laureate Narges Mohammadi says repression in Iran has increased since the war began, leaving no room for people to breathe. She told The Associated Press that a wave of resistance among the people is rising, tracing it to the 2022 protests over Mahsa Amini's death. Her memoir, written in prison, is being released this month in French, German and nine other languages.

Key Facts

Narges Mohammadi, 54, was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 2023 and was temporarily released from prison for medical reasons earlier this year.
Her memoir, titled “A Woman Never Stops Fighting,” was written behind bars and is being released this month in French, German and nine other languages.
Mohammadi was sentenced to 16 years and more than 100 lashes for attending a memorial rally in Mashhad in December.
The English and Farsi editions of her memoir will be released in September 2027 to honor the memory of Mahsa Amini.

Repression and Resistance

Mohammadi said Iranians are grappling with multiple crises stemming from the ongoing war and deepening economic pressure, along with brutal crackdowns on protests. She stated that since the outbreak of war, repression in society has severely increased, leaving no room for people to breathe. Despite this, she said many Iranians continue to resist, a change she traces back to the 2022 protests over the death of Mahsa Amini, a 22-year-old woman who died in a hospital after being detained for violating the Islamic dress code. Mohammadi observed that a wave of resistance and awareness is visible in the streets, with a younger generation knowing their rights and standing firm.

Detention and Health

Mohammadi described her most recent arrest and detention, saying she was severely beaten by security forces when detained in December in the northeastern city of Mashhad. She and a group of activists were attending a memorial ceremony for human rights lawyer Khosrow Alikordi, who was found dead in his office. She was arrested while giving a public speech and later sentenced to 16 years and more than 100 lashes for attending that rally. Mohammadi was temporarily released from prison for medical reasons earlier this year after falling unconscious and being transferred to a hospital.