Nobel Laureate Narges Mohammadi Goes on Hunger Strike While Imprisoned in Iran
Voice of AmericaNov 06, 2023
The Facts
Jailed Iranian Nobel Peace Prize winner Narges Mohammadi has gone on hunger strike over Iran's alleged refusal to provide medical care to her and fellow inmates, as well as its mandatory enforcement of the hijab for women.
According to human rights advocates, prison authorities prevented Mohammadi from receiving heart and lung treatment in a hospital last week, because she declined to cover her hair with a headscarf.
The Spin
Anti-Iran narrative
Iran's treatment of women in general and Mohammadi in particular is inhumane and demonstrates the moral failings of the Islamic Republic. Mohammadi, a brave activist who has fought hard for women's rights, is facing death all because she refused to cover her hair. The international community must do more to support Iranian women.
Pro-Iran narrative
From the beginning, the West has tried to stir trouble in Iran over its overwhelmingly popular religious policies. These Western-backed activists are nothing but provocateurs sowing the seeds of subversion in a bid to destabilize Iran. Iranian women have a strong Muslim identity, and they won't be swayed by foreign manipulation.
Nerd narrative
There's a 1% chance that Iran will disempower its Guidance Patrol "modesty police" before 2024, according to the Metaculus prediction community.