In an attempt to silence dissenting voices, Iran has initiated a trial against Nobel Peace Prize winner Narges Mohammadi in her absence. The Iranian activist, imprisoned since November 2021 for advocating against the country’s strict hijab law and capital punishment, has repeatedly refused to attend the court hearings. According to her lawyer, Mostafa Nili, the proceedings took place on Saturday at the 29th Branch of the Revolutionary Court in Tehran. Mohammadi is accused of spreading propaganda against the state due to her remarks on journalist Dina Ghalibaf and the boycott of legislative elections held in March. Rights groups have accused Iranian security forces of sexually assaulting Ghalibaf during a previous arrest, but the Iranian judiciary has denied these allegations. Mohammadi’s family has appealed for a public trial to allow witnesses to testify about the alleged sexual assaults perpetrated by the Iranian government against women. In a message from prison, Mohammadi described the current environment as a “full-scale war against women” in Iran. Following nationwide protests sparked by the death of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini, Iranian authorities have intensified enforcement of the Islamic dress code and utilized video surveillance. Under the rules imposed after the 1979 Islamic revolution, Iranian women are obligated to cover their hair and dress modestly in public.
