In a poignant ceremony at Oslo City Hall today, Iranian writer and activist Narges Mohammadi was awarded the prestigious Nobel Peace Prize in absentia. Despite being imprisoned and separated from her family for years, Mohammadi’s steadfast commitment to human rights and her dedication to the cause of peace garnered international recognition.

Mohammadi, who is currently serving multiple politically motivated sentences totaling more than three decades, was represented at the ceremony by her 17-year-old twins, Kiana and Ali Rahmani. The young siblings haven’t seen their mother since they fled Iran in 2015, and their last phone contact with her was banned by Iranian prison authorities almost two years ago.

Read: Narges Mohammadi: jailed Nobel winner on hunger strike in Iran

In the Nobel lecture delivered on her behalf, Narges Mohammadi stated, “I write this message from behind the tall and cold walls of the prison. I am a Middle Eastern woman, belonging to a region that, despite having a rich civilization, is now trapped amid war, the fire of terrorism, and extremism.”

She adds: “I am an Iranian woman, a proud and honorable contributor to civilization, who is currently under the oppression of a despotic religious government. I am a woman prisoner who, in enduring deep and soul-crushing suffering resulting from the lack of freedom, equality, and democracy, has recognized the necessity of their existence and has found faith… In my belief, the globalization of peace and human rights is more fundamental and effective than the globalization of any other matter…”

Mohammadi’s message underscored the interconnectedness of human rights violations and their far-reaching consequences, urging global solidarity in the fight for justice and freedom.

Over the years, Mohammadi has been subjected to numerous hardships, including abusive treatment, solitary confinement, and enforced separation from her immediate family. Nevertheless, she continues to advocate for human rights and denounce authoritarianism, writing letters to draw attention to ongoing repression in Iran and abuses against her fellow prisoners.

Watch interview: Why freedom is important – with Until We Are Free author and Nobel Peace Prize winner Dr Shirin Ebadi

Suzanne Nossel, CEO of PEN America, who attended the Nobel ceremony as a guest of the family, praised Mohammadi, saying, “Today, the Nobel committee honors a fearless human rights champion who wields the written word to create vital change. Narges Mohammadi has dedicated her life to promoting ‘Woman, Life, Freedom’ in Iran. Her wisdom and determination are so potent that the government of Iran prefers the humiliating spectacle of the world honoring her in absentia to the risk of allowing her to speak her mind.”

Calls for Mohammadi’s release intensified following the Nobel Committee’s announcement, citing her “fight against the oppression of women in Iran and her fight to promote human rights and freedom for all” as the reasons for her award. An open letter from PEN America, signed by prominent writers, artists, human rights activists, and civil society organisations, demanded the Iranian government’s immediate release of Mohammadi to attend the Nobel Peace Prize ceremony.

The letter states, “It is a moral imperative to prioritize human rights over political considerations and to advocate for the freedom of those who use their voices to defy tyranny and champion justice and equality.”

Karin Deutsch Karlekar, director of PEN America’s Writers at Risk program, said, “The Nobel Peace Prize is the most important human rights award in the world, and we are delighted that Narges was honored this year. We wish she could be here to receive the prize in person.”

Read: Nasrin Sotoudeh: Iranian author held after metro death funeral

Remarkably, this is not the first time a PEN America Freedom to Write Award honoree has received the Nobel Peace Prize. Liu Xiaobo, the President of the Independent Chinese PEN Center and a 2009 Freedom to Write honouree, was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 2010, similarly represented by an empty chair at the ceremony.

According to data from PEN America’s Freedom to Write Index, in 2022, Iran jailed at least 57 writers and public intellectuals in connection with their writing, work, or related activism, making it the second-highest number in the world. Mohammadi’s recognition by the Nobel Committee serves as a stark reminder of the ongoing persecution faced by political dissidents and human rights defenders, both in Iran and around the world.