Challenges Faced by Narges Mohammadi: Obstacles and Turning Points

By Popular Timelines Editorial Team · Updated: March 1, 2025

Resilience and perseverance in the journey of Narges Mohammadi. A timeline of obstacles and growth.

Narges Mohammadi is a prominent Iranian human rights activist and vice president of the Defenders of Human Rights Center (DHRC). She's known for her advocacy against the death penalty and her support for feminist civil disobedience against mandatory hijab laws in Iran. In 2016, she was sentenced to 16 years in prison for her human rights work. Although briefly released in 2020, she was re-imprisoned in 2021 and has reported on the abuse of female detainees, including instances of solitary confinement. Her activism has made her a key figure in the fight for human rights in Iran.

Sections (4)

Full Timeline Early Life & Education Challenges & Struggles Controversies & Scandals

1998: First arrest for criticizing Iranian government

Narges Mohammadi was first arrested in 1998 for her criticisms of the Iranian government and spent a year in prison.

April 2010: Summoned to Islamic Revolutionary Court and re-arrested

In April 2010, Narges Mohammadi was summoned to the Islamic Revolutionary Court for her membership in the DHRC. She was briefly released on bail but re-arrested several days later and detained at Evin Prison.

July 2011: Prosecuted and found guilty

In July 2011, Narges Mohammadi was prosecuted again and found guilty of "acting against the national security, membership of the DHRC and propaganda against the regime."

March 2012: Sentence upheld by appeals court

In March 2012, Narges Mohammadi's sentence was upheld by an appeals court, though it was reduced to six years.

October 2014: Speech at Sattar Beheshti's gravesite

In October 2014, Narges Mohammadi made a speech at the gravesite of Sattar Beheshti, criticizing the lack of response to his death under torture, leading to a summons by the Evin Prison court.

November 2014: Received summons with unexplained charges

In November 2014, Narges Mohammadi received a summons to turn herself in for unexplained charges.

May 2015: Arrested and sentenced to prison

In May 2015, Narges Mohammadi was arrested again and sentenced to ten years' imprisonment for "founding an illegal group", five years for "assembly and collusion against national security," and a year for "propaganda against the system."

May 2016: Sentenced to 16 years in prison

In May 2016, Narges Mohammadi was sentenced in Tehran to 16 years' imprisonment for establishing and running "a human rights movement that campaigns for the abolition of the death penalty."

January 2019: Began hunger strike in prison

In January 2019, Narges Mohammadi began a hunger strike with Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe in Evin Prison to protest being denied access to medical care.

November 2019: Ebrahim Ketabdar killed by Iranian security forces

In November 2019, Ebrahim Ketabdar was killed by Iranian security forces during protests.

July 2020: Showed symptoms of COVID-19 infection

In July 2020, Narges Mohammadi showed symptoms of a COVID-19 infection while in prison.

May 2021: Sentenced to prison, lashes, and fines

In May 2021, Narges Mohammadi was sentenced to two and a half years in prison, 80 lashes, and two separate fines for charges including "spreading propaganda against the system".

November 2021: Arrested at memorial for Ebrahim Ketabdar

On November 16, 2021, Narges Mohammadi was arrested in Karaj, Alborz, while attending a memorial for Ebrahim Ketabdar, who was killed by Iranian security forces during protests in November 2019.

2021: Sent back to prison

In 2021, Narges Mohammadi was sent back to prison, where she reported on the abuse and solitary confinement of detained women.

December 2022: Report detailing abuse of detained women published by BBC

In December 2022, the BBC published a report by Narges Mohammadi detailing the sexual and physical abuse of detained women.

2022: Authored "White Torture"

In 2022, Narges Mohammadi authored "White Torture", a book criticizing solitary confinement.

January 2023: Report from prison detailing condition of women in Evin Prison

In January 2023, Narges Mohammadi gave a report from prison detailing the condition of women in Evin Prison, including a list of 58 prisoners and the interrogation process and tortures they have gone through.

2023: Critic of Hijab and Chastity program

In 2023, Narges Mohammadi was a vocal critic of hijab and chastity program.

May 2024: Facing fresh charges

In May 2024, Narges Mohammadi announced that she is facing fresh charges of offences against the state of Iran.

November 2024: Underwent surgery and returned to prison

In November 2024, Narges Mohammadi underwent complex surgery in Iran that saw part of a bone in her right leg removed over cancer fears but was immediately returned to prison, raising the risks to her life.