Narges Mohammadi Goes on Hunger Strike in Prison after Being Denied Hospital Access

Narges Mohammadi is an Iranian Human Rights Activist and Nobel Laureate. She has been a vocal critic of Hijab in Iran. 

51 year old jailed Narges has been on a hunger strike at Iran’s Evin prison since Monday morning as authorities have stopped her from having access to medical care for her lung and heart problem. 

The statement from Narges’ family said that she was protesting “the Islamic Republic's policy of delaying and neglecting medical care for sick inmates, resulting in the loss of the health and lives of individuals”, and “the policy of 'death' or 'mandatory hijab' for Iranian women.”

A prosecutor is blocking her transfer to the hospital. According to her family, this was because Narges refused to cover her hair. 

“According to the diagnosis and echocardiogram of a trusted doctor of the prison, she has been in need of emergency transfer to the heart and lung centre for urgent medical care”, the statement reads. 

Other prison inmates have been protesting for two days and nights demanding that Narges be shifted to the hospital. 

The prison warden revealed that according to the higher authorities Narges can’t be shifted to the hospital without a head scarf. 

The chairman of the Norwegian Nobel Committee - who awarded Narges the peace prize for “her fight against the oppression of women in Iran”, said the news was deeply concerning. 

“The requirement that female inmates must wear a hijab in order to be hospitalised is inhumane and morally unacceptable,” Berit Reiss-Andersen said. 

Narges Mohammadi has been sentenced to 31 years in prison. She has been arrested 13 times, convicted 5 times and sentenced to 154 lashes although it is uncertain whether the last punishment was carried out.