Concerns Grow for Imprisoned Nobel Peace Prize Laureate Narges Mohammadi's Health in Iran

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates: Imprisoned Nobel Peace Prize laureate Narges Mohammi underwent a complex surgery in Iran that saw part of a bone in her right leg removed over cancer fears but was immediately returned to prison, raising risks to her life, rights groups warned.

A letter signed by over 40 activist groups, sent to United Nations Human Rights Council, urged that Mohammi be immediately released on a medical furlough from a prison sentence on charges long criticized internationally. It is part of a wider pressure campaign on Iran over Mohammi's detention since Nobel committee honored her last year.

Meanwhile, a group says anor activist set himself on fire in prison this past weekend to protest against his incarceration as Iran continues to face internal dissent after years of protests against its ocracy.

“We urge that Iranian authorities stop criminalization of human rights, and refrain from summoning human rights defenders, journalists and writers to serve ir prison sentences while ir health situation is precarious,” said letter, dated Monday.

Iran's mission to United Nations did not immediately respond to a request for comment Tuesday. Iranian state media, which broly ignored previous campaigns seeking to free Mohammi, did not immediately report on letter.

Mohammi, 52, is serving sentences totaling 13 years and nine months in prison on charges of collusion against state security and propaganda against Iran's government. She has kept up her activism despite numerous arrests by Iranian authorities and spending years behind bars. That includes backing nationwide, women-led protests sparked by 2022 death of Mahsa Amini.

She suffered multiple heart attacks while imprisoned before undergoing emergency surgery in 2022, letter says. In November of this year, her lawyer announced that doctors found a bone lesion that y feared could be cancerous, sparking surgery she underwent on Thursday.

“She was transferred back to prison after only two days, against her doctor’s vice and anor request from her legal team that she be granted a medical furlough and sentence suspension,” letter said.

“Years of imprisonment and months of solitary confinement have severely compromised Mohammi’s health, leaving her with multiple serious conditions that cannot be dressed through a short, incomplete hospital visit.”

Iran’s economy has been in tatters for years because of sanctions imposed by West. Its people are angry over devaluation of ir money and government corruption. That's fueled protests, as well as a government crackdown on dissent in country. return of President-elect Donald Trump to White House this January has stoked concerns for some that he may resume his “maximum pressure” campaign on Islamic Republic.

Concerns are rising for or imprisoned activists in Iran as well. On Saturday, Saeid Gharibi set himself on fire to protest his 15-year sentence and conditions at Shiraz's elab Prison, New York-based Center for Human Rights in Iran said. center quoted his lawyer as saying Gharibi suffered severe burns to his back and hands and has been denied medical care. Iran has not acknowledged incident.

Last week, a former journalist with Voice of America’s Farsi service jumped to his death from a building in Tehran in protest of country’s supreme leer and an ongoing crackdown on dissent.