Iran Arrests Nobel Laureate Mohammadi at Mashhad Memorial

Iranian security forces arrested 2023 Nobel Peace Prize laureate Narges Mohammadi and at least eight other human rights activists during a memorial ceremony in the northeastern city of Mashhad on Friday. The gathering honored Khosrow Alikordi, a prominent lawyer and advocate who died earlier this month under circumstances that have raised questions among rights groups.

The event marked the seventh day after Alikordi's death on December 5, following Islamic tradition. Alikordi, 46, was found dead in his office in Mashhad, with local officials attributing the cause to a heart attack. However, more than 80 lawyers have called for a fuller investigation, citing his history of defending clients arrested during the 2022 nationwide protests and repeated harassment by authorities. Rights organizations have expressed suspicions about the death, though no evidence of foul play has been confirmed.

A large crowd of activists, former political prisoners, and families of victims attended the ceremony, where participants chanted slogans critical of the government, including "Long live Iran" and references to executed protesters. Social media videos showed Mohammadi, 53, speaking without a...