Imprisoned Iranian Nobel Peace Prize winner Narges Mohammadi began a hunger strike on Monday to protest against Iran's denial of medical care to her as well as against the country's strict hijab rules, BBC reported. Human Rights Activists News Agency said authorities had not let the 51-year-old go to the hospital for heart and lung treatment last week because she had refused to wear a mandatory head scarf for the visit.
''Narges went on a hunger strike today ... protesting two things: 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. The policy of 'death' or 'mandatory hijab' for Iranian women,'' the statement read.
Ms Mohammadi's family said that she was suffering from blockages in three veins and lung pressure, but prison officials refused to take her to the hospital over her denial to wear a hijab. Her family added that she was only consuming water, sugar, and salt, and had stopped taking her medications.
The Norwegian Nobel Committee on Monday urged Iranian authorities to give Ms Mohammadi the medical help she needs. "The requirement that female inmates must wear a hijab in order to be hospitalized, is inhumane and morally unacceptable," the committee said.
Notably, the head covering has been obligatory for women in public spaces since shortly after Iran's 1979 Islamic revolution.
The imprisoned women's rights advocate won the 2023 Peace Prize on October 6 for fighting against the oppression of women in Iran. She is serving multiple sentences amounting to about 12 years imprisonment on charges including spreading propaganda against the Islamic Republic.
The Nobel laureate has been arrested 13 times, convicted five times, and sentenced to a total of 31 years in prison and 154 lashes, said the Nobel Prize website, adding, "Her brave struggle has come with tremendous personal costs."
Violent protests had broken out in the country after Mahsa Amini, a young Kurdish woman, was killed in the custody of the morality police.
Featured Video Of The Day
ISRO's Developmental Flight Carrying Earth Observation Satellite Lifts Off
Iranian Nobel Prize Winner Hurt In Prison Clashes With Guards: Family Female Inmates Beaten Inside Iran Prison: Jailed Nobel Winner Narges Mohammadi's Family Iran Slaps 1-Year Prison Term On Nobel Prize Laureate For "Propaganda" Parents Gave Names Of Interns, Doctors To CBI In Kolkata Horror: Sources How Extreme Weather Is Leading To Rise In Child Marriages In Pakistan Video: Woman Tries To Jump Off Mumbai's Atal Setu, Saved By Driver, Cops Exotic Trips, Luxury Cars: Inside The Lavish Life Of LA's "Ketamine Queen" Kerala Launches 1st Digital Court For Negotiable Instruments Cases "Far From Over" But Joe Biden Has High Hopes For Gaza Ceasefire Track Latest News Live on NDTV.com and get news updates from India and around the world.