Narges Mohammadi denied medical leave from prison in spite of sharp decline in health and drastic weight loss, say lawyers
The family of the jailed Iranian Nobel laureate Narges Mohammadi say they fear for her life after a sharp deterioration in her health, suspected heart attack and drop in body weight of almost 20kg (44lb).
The 54-year-old human rights activist, who was awarded the 2023 Nobel peace prize while in prison, had been released for health reasons in 2024. She was re-arrested in December 2025 during the memorial service of a fellow human rights activist and is being held in Zanjan central prison, in north-west Iran.
The activist’s legal team said they had been trying to secure a one-month medical suspension of Mohammadi’s sentence after she had a suspected heart attack last month and was found unconscious in her cell. Their client had been experiencing persistent chest pain, loss of consciousness and extreme weight loss, they said.
“For the past three days, her blood pressure has fluctuated dangerously … showing no response to medication. In addition to these cardiovascular issues, she has suffered a staggering weight loss of more than 19kg and is experiencing enduring, recurring pain,” the Narges Mohammadi Foundation said in a statement. Lack of access to appropriate treatment was placing her life in immediate danger, they said.
