Narges Mohammadi, a 54-year-old human rights activist, recently detailed the severe abuses she suffered during her two-decade incarceration at Tehran's Evin prison. following a temporary medical release in May, Mohammadi has launched her memoir, A Woman Never Stops Fighting, across several European nations .
The smuggled notes that became 'A Woman Never Stops Fighting'
Narges Mohammadi's memoir was born from fragments of notes, ink, and paper smuggled out of Evin prison with the help of fellow inmates. According to the report, security guards confiscated three sheets of paper during a visitor's desk encounter, and more than twenty notebooks were seized after Mohammadi was beaten and moved to a different cell block.
The resulting book, released this month in several European countries, exposes the internal mechanisms of the Iranian penal system. It documents a period of two months in solitary confinement where Narges Mohammadi was denied legal counsel, family visits, and phone access.
The 44-year sentence and the brutality of Evin prison
The physical toll of Mohammadi's confinement is stark. As the report notes, the Norwegian Nobel Committee confirmed that Narges Mohammadi was beaten with a wooden stick, dragged by her hair, and kicked in the genital and pelvic regions. There are further reports that she may have endured 154 lashes as part of a total sentence spanning nearly half a century.
This level of violence is part of a broader pattern of state-sponsored repression in Iran. By documenting these specific abuses, Mohammadi's account provides a concrete record of the treatment of political prisoners in Tehran, moving the conversation from general human rights concerns to specific, documented atrocities.
A March heart attack and the loss of 20 kilograms
The health of Narges Mohammadi deteriorated significantly during her recent stint in prison. according to her foundation , prison authorities ignored or denied her medical condition after she suffered a heart attack in March and lost 20 kilograms of body weight.
This medical neglect is framed as "life-threatening mistreatment" by her supporters. The temporary medicl leave granted in May, which allowed her to speak with CNN, highlights the precarious nature of her health and the regime's use of medical deprivation as a tool of control.
The legacy of Mahsa Amini and the fight for Iranian prisoners
Mohammadi's struggle is inextricably linked to the wider Iranian protest movement. during her recent appearance, she sat before a portrait of Mahsa Amini, the woman whose death at the hands of morality police sparked nationwide unrest. Mohammadi's work extends beyond her own plight, as she uses her network to support the families of other arrested individuals in Iran.
This connection underscores a trend where individual prisoners become symbols of collective resistance. By aligning herself with the memory of Mahsa Amini, Narges Mohammadi positions her memoir not just as a personal history, but as a manifesto for a broader movement against the Iranian regime.
The risk of retribution after the CNN interview
Despite her temporary freedom, Narges Mohammadi acknowledges that publishing her memoir is a "dangerous act" that invites state retribution. The report notes that the interview with CNN was carefully arranged to avoid current political controversies, focusing instead on her past experiences.
However, several critical details remain unclear. The source does not specify the exact duration of her medical leave or the conditions under which she must return to Evin prison. Furthermore, while the report mentions the "risk" of retribution, it does not detail what specific legal or physical threats the Iranian atuhorities have leveled against her since the book's European release.
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