PEN Norway Demands Release of Narges Mohammadi and Other Detained Iranian Activists
PEN Norway strongly condemns the violent and arbitrary arrest of Narges Mohammadi on 12 December and demands her immediate and unconditional release.
PEN Norway strongly condemns the violent and arbitrary arrest of Nobel Peace Prize Laureate, writer, human rights defender, and its honorary member Narges Mohammadi, along with dozens of other civil society activists, journalists, and human rights defenders, during a memorial ceremony in Mashhad on 12 December 2025.
According to Narges Foundation, at least 39 people were officially arrested. However, international NGOs and rights groups say that more than 50 people were detained for peacefully exercising their rights to freedom of expression, assembly, and association during the memorial for the late human rights lawyer Khosrow Alikordi.
The memorial, held near a mosque outside Mashhad, was intended to honor Alikordi’s life and work as a lawyer who defended protesters and political prisoners. Instead, the gathering was met with overwhelming force by Iranian security agents.
PEN Norway is gravely concerned by credible reports that Narges Mohammadi and other detainees were subjected to torture and other ill-treatment at the time of arrest. Witness accounts verified by the Narges Foundation say that Mohammadi was dragged by her hair, beaten repeatedly on the head, face, and neck with batons, subjected to sexist verbal abuse, and threatened with death.
Of particular concern is Narges Mohammadi’s deteriorating health. Her arrest occurred despite well-documented heart conditions and recent surgery, for which her prison sentence had been suspended on medical grounds in December 2024. She is currently believed to be held in solitary confinement in a Ministry of Intelligence detention facility in Mashhad, without access to her family, independent doctors, or lawyers of her choosing. Denial of medical care under these circumstances amounts to cruel, inhuman, and degrading treatment under international law.
Until her imprisonment, Narges continued to use her voice. In connection with Imprisoned Writers’ Day on 15 November, PEN Norway received this video from Narges in Iran.
PEN Norway stands with the Free Narges Coalition and international human rights organizations in calling for:
- The immediate and unconditional release of Narges Mohammadi and all others arbitrarily detained in Mashhad.
- Immediate access to family members, independent medical care, and legal counsel of their choosing.
- An end to torture, ill-treatment, and the use of solitary confinement against peaceful activists.
- An independent, transparent investigation into the death of Khosrow Alikordi.
- Full respect for Iran’s obligations under international human rights law, including the protection of freedom of expression, peaceful assembly, and the safety of writers and human rights defenders.
The arrest of a Nobel Peace Prize laureate for speaking at a memorial, and the violent suppression of those who gathered peacefully to mourn a lawyer and demand justice, sends a chilling message to writers, journalists, and civil society in Iran. PEN Norway reiterates that attending a memorial, speaking publicly, and demanding accountability are not crimes.
We will continue to mobilize nationally and internationally until Narges Mohammadi and all those detained for exercising their fundamental rights are free.
