A new urgent medical need has forced an Iranian activist into a hospital ICU. Narges Mohammadi collapsed twice in one day. Her lawyer, Mostafa Nili, confirmed the emergency transfer from Zanjan prison. She now receives treatment in intensive care.
This urgent medical need follows severe health complications. Mohammadi lost consciousness on Thursday. Prison doctors tried two intravenous drips and anti-nausea medication. Her condition did not improve. A neurologist then ordered her immediate hospital transfer. Doctors found her blood pressure fluctuating wildly. She also reported intense chest pain before fainting.
The activist initially refused the ambulance ride. She cited earlier warnings from two cardiologists in Zanjan. Those specialists had examined her history of three angiographies and a stent placement. They believed local hospitals could not manage her high-risk case. Instead, they recommended her own medical team handle treatment. However, her health worsened again hours later. The prison neurologist then prioritized brain function checks.
Authorities arrested Mohammadi on December 12, 2024. The arrest involved significant force. Later, on February 7, 2025, a court added seven and a half more years to her sentence. This decision raised her total prison time beyond 18 years. The same ruling imposed a two-year travel ban and two years of internal exile. She spent 60 days in temporary detention. That period included 26 days of solitary confinement in Mashhad. Then authorities sent her to Zanjan Central Prison on February 7. She remains there today.
The Zanjan Forensic Medicine Commission recommended a one-month halt to her sentence. They wanted time for proper treatment. But the Zanjan prosecutor’s office refused. They said Tehran’s prosecutor must decide first. Her lawyer argues the transfer to Zanjan broke legal rules. He says the Tehran prosecutor ignored both forensic and cardiologist advice. The prosecutor insisted on treatment inside Zanjan hospitals anyway.
A foundation supporting Mohammadi released a statement. The group noted 140 days of arbitrary detention without specialist care. They linked this neglect directly to her two same-day collapses. The foundation stressed that hospital admission cannot stay temporary. Her documented heart disease and a prior bone lesion require constant monitoring. Doctors had previously treated that bone lesion as a possible cancer case.
The group called for immediate and unconditional release. They want all charges dropped against her. They also demand a full annulment of all sentences tied to her human rights work. Further, they insist on a transfer to a Tehran hospital under a specialist team. Finally, they repeated the call for freeing all political prisoners now in custody.
Medical experts say prisoners with heart conditions face increased death risks. Blood pressure swings and prior stents create a dangerous combination. For Mohammadi, each day in detention without the right care amplifies the threat. Her legal team expects a new court appeal within days. However, the prosecutor’s office has not signaled any change. The Nobel committee previously asked Iranian authorities to release her immediately. That request came shortly after her exile to Zanjan. As of now, she remains in the ICU under guard. Doctors have not released a new prognosis. This urgent medical need remains unresolved.