TEHRAN, Iran — Iranian authorities have handed down an additional prison sentence of seven years and four months to Nobel Peace Prize laureate Narges Mohammadi. The sentencing, announced by her family and human rights advocates on Sunday, February 8, 2026, marks the latest escalation in the Islamic Republic’s long-standing campaign to silence one of its most prominent critics.
New Charges and “Collusion”
The revolutionary court in Tehran convicted Mohammadi on charges of “gathering and collusion against national security” and “propaganda against the state.” According to legal documents, the additional time was added due to her continued activism from within the walls of the notorious Evin Prison, including her letters smuggled out to international bodies condemning the treatment of female prisoners.
This new sentence brings her total projected time behind bars to over 35 years, combined across various cases. She also faces additional “flogging” sentences and a ban on social media and political participation upon any future release.
Voice of the “Woman, Life, Freedom” Movement
Despite being incarcerated for much of the past two decades, Mohammadi has remained the symbolic heart of the “Woman, Life, Freedom” movement that erupted following the 2022 death of Mahsa Amini.
In 2023, she was awarded 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.” Her children accepted the award on her behalf in Oslo while she remained in her cell.
Health Concerns and Isolation
International rights groups, including Amnesty International, have raised urgent alarms regarding Mohammadi’s health. Reports indicate she has been denied essential medical care for a heart condition as punishment for her refusal to wear the mandatory hijab during prison transfers.
“Narges is being slowly killed by a system that fears her words more than her physical presence,” a spokesperson for the Free Narges Campaign stated following the verdict.
Global Reaction
The sentencing has sparked immediate condemnation:
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The Nobel Committee: Issued a statement calling the new sentence “a travesty of justice” and demanded her unconditional release.
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The European Union: Called on Tehran to uphold its international human rights obligations and cease the judicial harassment of peaceful activists.
As of Sunday evening, the Iranian judiciary has not issued an official comment on the sentencing, which is typical of high-profile political cases in the country.