Imprisoned Iranian activist Narges Mohammadi wins Nobel Peace Prize

Imprisoned Iranian activist Narges Mohammadi on Friday won the Nobel Peace Prize, in recognition of her efforts to fight for women’s rights and democracy and her opposition to the death penalty.

The 51-year-old Mohammadi has continued to be an activist despite arrests by Iranian authorities and spending years behind bars, according to the Associated Press. 

She was a leading voice last year about women's rights after a 22-year-old woman died while in police custody after being detained for allegedly not wearing a head scarf. The women's death led to demonstrations that posed a historic challenge to Iran’s theocratic government.

“This prize is first and foremost a recognition of the very important work of a whole movement in Iran with its undisputed leader, Narges Mohammadi,” said Berit Reiss-Andersen, the chair of the Norwegian Nobel Committee who announced the prize in Oslo.