Narges Mohammadi is in ICU after collapsing in prison
Updated
Updated · The New York Times · May 1
Narges Mohammadi is in ICU after collapsing in prison
10 articles · Updated · The New York Times · May 1
The 54-year-old Iranian Nobel Peace Prize laureate was taken from Zanjan prison to a city hospital on Friday after extreme chest pain and repeated loss of consciousness.
Her family, lawyer Mostafa Nili and husband Taghi Rahmani said authorities refused transfer to a better-equipped Tehran hospital where her longtime cardiologist could treat her, raising fears for her life.
Mohammadi has chronic heart problems, a past lung embolism and headaches she links to prison abuse; earlier reports said prison doctors could not manage her worsening condition after prior cardiac episodes.
With a Nobel laureate near death in prison, can international pressure actually force her release?
Amidst war and crackdowns, why did Iran suddenly hospitalize its most famous political prisoner?
140 Days of Medical Neglect Endanger Nobel Laureate Narges Mohammadi’s Life in Iranian Detention
Overview
Narges Mohammadi’s severe cardiac crisis in late April 2026, marked by loss of consciousness and dangerous blood pressure fluctuations, was the result of a pre-existing heart condition worsened by a violent arrest and 140 days of medical neglect. Despite urgent medical recommendations, bureaucratic delays blocked her transfer to specialized care in Tehran, forcing a late transfer to a local hospital only after her condition became critical. Her foundation’s public alerts sparked international outcry, amplified by her 2023 Nobel Peace Prize, leading to demands for her release and medical care. However, Iranian authorities dismissed these calls, continuing a pattern of political persecution amid a broader crackdown on human rights.