Narges Mohammadi: Jailed Iranian human rights activist awarded Nobel Peace Prize

Iranian human rights activist Narges Mohammadi has received the Nobel Peace Prize for her fight against the oppression of women in Iran and her fight to promote human rights and freedom for all.

Mohammadi, 51, is currently in prison.

"Her brave struggle has come with tremendous personal costs. Altogether, the regime has arrested her 13 times, convicted her five times, and sentenced her to a total of 31 years in prison and 154 lashes," read a statement issued by the Norwegian Nobel Committee.

"Narges Mohammadi is a woman, a human rights advocate, and a freedom fighter. In awarding her this year’s Nobel Peace Prize, the Norwegian Nobel Committee wishes to honour her courageous fight for human rights, freedom, and democracy in Iran," read a statement issued by the Committee.

"This year’s Peace Prize also recognises the hundreds of thousands of people who, in the preceding year, have demonstrated against the theocratic regime’s policies of discrimination and oppression targeting women," read the statement.

The award to Narges Mohammadi follows a long tradition in which the Norwegian Nobel Committee has awarded the Peace Prize to those working to advance social justice, human rights, and democracy.