Nobel Peace Prize: “A sign for the entire protest movement in Iran”

The Nobel Peace Prize for Narges Mohammadi is a sign for the entire protest movement in Iran, explains Amnesty International’s Iran expert Müller-Fahlbusch. The award has rather positive consequences for the award winner, who is in prison.

tagesschau.de: Just two days ago there was a report that a 16-year-old in Iran was said to have been mistreated by the moral police because she did not wear her headscarf properly. The regime is planning even harsher punishments. So how important is this Nobel Peace Prize for Nargis Mohammadi in your view?

Katja Müller-Fahlbusch: This Nobel Peace Prize for Nargis Mohammadi is an important sign. First of all, we are wholeheartedly happy for Mohammadi herself, who has been campaigning for human rights in Iran for decades.

It is a sign not only to them, but to the entire protest movement in Iran, to the brave people, the men and women who have been taking to the streets for over a year, at risk to life and limb.

It is a sign that this commitment and fight for human rights and freedom is seen, even outside of Iran. A sign that the world continues to look and continue to be interested. This will certainly give the protest movement strength and confidence.

“More protection rather than less”

tagesschau.de: To what extent could this price possibly harm Mohammadi, who is in prison?

Müller-Fahlbusch: This award will not harm the activists who are in prison. We have known and documented for many decades that especially those prisoners whose names and fates we do not know are often vulnerable to violence, torture and mistreatment.

The moment prisoners, detainees, activists have a name, a face, a story that is known beyond borders, that generally means more protection, not less.

Attention gives confidence

tagesschau.de: You mentioned the role of women. What can the Nobel Peace Prize do for Mohammadi, also to strengthen women and their influence within society?

Müller-Fahlbusch: First of all, this price means that this effort is seen. This is not necessarily a given, because we have seen in recent years and decades that the fight of women in Iran for their rights is very often not recognized internationally.

Since last fall we have been hearing again and again how much strength and confidence this international attention and publicity gives people.

Just imagine: every time they speak out, every time they take to the streets, they risk being imprisoned, tortured and killed in Iran. The attention gives them confidence and also the feeling that they are not alone in this mission. In this respect, this is very important and should not be underestimated.

Widespread impunity

tagesschau.de: What are you doing and what can you do as an organization to support women in Iran?

Müller-Fahlbusch: As human rights organizations, we document human rights violations. We make them public, we make them visible. This is how we try to apply pressure.

Of course on the government in Tehran – but much more important is the pressure on the international community. So that it works to address crimes, to name them publicly, but also to take concrete steps.

Last year, for example, the UN Human Rights Council set up a commission of inquiry to investigate human rights violations in Iran. This has been a demand of Amnesty International for many years. We actually managed to build up so much political will through publicity and pressure that this could finally be achieved. These are important steps, especially in the fight against impunity in Iran.

Because human rights violations and the most serious violations or violations of international law are usually met with impunity in Iran. Perpetrators do not have to fear any consequences.

In the worst case, they are even promoted to the highest levels of government for human rights violations, as we see in the example of the current President of the Islamic Republic of Iran.

The interview was conducted by Kathrin Schlass for tagesschau24. The interview has been slightly adapted for the written version.