Winnipeg’s Iranian community celebrates activist Narges Mohammadi’s Nobel Peace Prize award

It’s a day of celebration for the Iranian Community of Manitoba after activist and freedom fighter Narge’s Mohammadi was awarded this year’s Nobel Peace Prize.

Afsaneh Oliver is now a family doctor in Winnipeg, but she comes from Iran. At 13, her family left the country after being persecuted for their Baha’i faith. She says it’s hard to have hope… but international recognition for Mohammadi makes today different.

This photo taken in 2021 shows Narges Mohammadi in Tehran, Iran. (Reihane Taravati via AP)

“The women in Iran, they’re not gonna let go. They’re fighting, you know. With all the restrictions, all the dangers they’re facing,” said Oliver.

“It’s scary to live there and be brave. But there are women like her who are still fighting so hopefully. Yeah, I’m hopeful again today.”

Afsaneh Oliver, Winnipeg family doctor from Iran (Joanne Roberts, CityNews)

• READ MORE: Jailed Iranian activist Narges Mohammadi wins the Nobel Peace Prize for fighting women’s oppression

Arian Arianpour is the president of the Iranian Community of Manitoba. He says Mohammadi has been at the forefront of the Woman Life Freedom movement, and says this award signifies the world is watching – and recognizing the efforts of people fighting for change.

“You know your actions to defend human rights will have severe punishments, and yet you persevere again and again and again. Not everyone is able to live a life like that,” explained Arianpour.

“This is a huge win for her and for everyone else who is fighting for freedom because, after years of trying to silence her, this is how the world is reacting to … this brave hero.”

Arian Arianpour, President of the Iranian Community of Manitoba. (Joanne Roberts, CityNews)

Arianpour says he thinks Mohammadi’s Nobel Peace Prize award comes not only from decades of defending the rights of Iranians but from continuous advocacy, despite attempts to break her through prison sentences.

“She has never been silent. Not even once. Any human rights violation that has happened in Iran has had a response from her, whether she was inside or outside prison.”

Arianpour says as people from all over the world celebrate Mohammadi, he hopes they take action, too.

“We’re not expecting any foreign governments to topple the regime. We’re just expecting those governments to stop normalizing an abnormal regime, and the rest will be done by the people of Iran.”

Winnipeg’s Iranian community commemorates many events, only a handful of them good. Arianpour says the day of Mohammadi’s Nobel Peace Prize win will be an anniversary of renewed hope for Iranians all over the world.