The children of imprisoned Iranian activist, Narges Mohammadi, received the Nobel Peace Prize on her behalf. Mohammadi, who is serving a 10-year prison sentence in Tehran, won this year’s prize for her work in the fight against the oppression of women in Iran.

In a speech leaked from prison and read by her children, the Iranian activist denounced Iran’s “tyrannical” government.

“The Iranian people, with perseverance, will overcome oppression and authoritarianism,” he said. “Have no doubt, that is certain.”

The prestigious Peace Prize was awarded in Oslo on Sunday, December 10, 2023, along with the other Nobel Prizes in Literature, Science and Economics.

Narges Mohammad has been a prominent human rights figure in Iran for years. The 51-year-old has been in prison since 2010 and has been arrested a total of 13 times and sentenced to a total of 31 years in prison.

Her husband, political activist Taghi Rahmani, lives in exile in Paris with their two children and they haven’t seen each other in years.

In the speech, delivered by her 17-year-old children, Kiana and Ali Rahmani, in French, Mohammadi said: “I am writing this message behind the high, cold walls of a prison.”

He praised young Iranians who, he said, “turned the streets and public spaces into a place of widespread political resistance”referring to the protests that began last year after the death of Mahsa Amini.

“The resistance is alive and the fight is not weakening. Resistance and nonviolence are our best strategies. It is the same difficult path that Iranians have walked until today, thanks to their historical consciousness and their collective will».

Her children received the award, which includes a check for 1 million Swedish kroner (about 980,000 euros), at a ceremony at Oslo City Hall attended by several hundred guests. There was an empty chair on the step between her children, to mark her absence.

Her award is “historical and important moment in the struggle for freedom in Iran”, her family said in a text message when the commission’s decision became known. “We dedicate this award to all Iranians and especially to the women and girls in Iran who are an inspiration to the whole world with their courage and struggle for freedom and equality.”

He added: “Unfortunately, Narges Nohammadi cannot be with us to share this extraordinary moment.”the family added. “As Narges always says: victory is not easy to achieve, but it is certain.”

Mohammadi is the 19th woman to win this award and the first since Filipina Maria Ressa who in 2021 won the award together with Russian Dmitry Muratov.