Renowned human rights activist and Nobel Peace Prize winner Narges Mohammadi has expressed her belief that Iranian women will be the driving force behind dismantling the Islamic Republic, regardless of external military threats. Mohammadi, 52, made this declaration in a message shared on International Women’s Day, reinforcing her steadfast opposition to Iran’s ruling system.
Currently on temporary release due to health concerns, Mohammadi faces the looming risk of being returned to prison at any moment. She has spent years behind bars for her advocacy and was a vocal supporter of the nationwide protests that erupted following the death of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini in September 2022. Amini, an Iranian-Kurdish woman, was detained for allegedly violating Iran’s strict dress code for women, a case that sparked widespread outrage and ignited demonstrations challenging the country’s leadership.
The protests, though met with severe crackdowns, continue to symbolize defiance against the authorities. In a video message from Iran, Mohammadi declared that the government has lost its ability to silence women. Defiantly appearing without the mandatory headscarf, she asserted, “Women have risen in such a way that the Islamic Republic can no longer suppress them.”
She further warned that while Iran’s leadership might endure external military threats, it will ultimately succumb to the resilience of women’s resistance. “Even if the Islamic Republic survives war, it will not survive the uprising of women,” she stated, alluding to potential conflicts involving Israel or the United States.
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Using a powerful metaphor, Mohammadi compared the regime’s fate to a fragile object: “The glass vessel holding the life of the Islamic Republic will be shattered by women.”
She also denounced the Iranian government’s treatment of women, describing it as “gender apartheid” that has persisted since the establishment of the Islamic Republic. Expressing her hope for continued resistance, she declared, “Women will lead the fight against religious oppression, and their victory will be the triumph of justice.”
Mohammadi’s release from Tehran’s Evin Prison in December was a rare moment of freedom after years of repeated imprisonments. Despite being out of confinement, she remains outspoken about human rights abuses and the plight of activists within Iran. She took a moment to honor three women—Sharifeh Mohammadi, Verisheh Moradi, and Pakhshan Azizi—who have been sentenced to death on charges of “rebellion.” She condemned the verdicts as acts of retaliation against their involvement in the protests.
Mohammadi’s words continue to resonate with those advocating for change in Iran, reinforcing the belief that the struggle for women’s rights remains a formidable challenge to the Islamic Republic’s rule.