In a political move, the Norwegian Nobel Committee on Friday awarded Narges Mohammadi, 51, the 2023 Nobel Peace Prize in Oslo, claiming that she has been fighting "against the oppression of women" in Iran and fighting to "promote human rights and freedom for all."
Mohammadi has been in and out of jail for much of her adult life and is currently serving a prison term in Tehran's Evin prison.
In 2016, an Iranian appeals court confirmed the 16-year sentence for Mohammadi on charges of colluding to act against national security, engaging in propaganda campaigns against the government as well as forming and directing an illegal group.
She was released in 2020 but sent back to prison in 2021 on charges that include spreading propaganda against the Islamic establishment.
"This political reward has rather turned into a [means of] financial support for the illegal activities of some of its winners," said Kazem Gharibabadi, secretary of Iran's High Council for Human Rights.
He defined some of those, who were really deserving of receiving a peace prize as the victims of the West's unilateral sanctions -- namely the Iranian nation -- as well as the victims of former Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein's Western-backed war of 1980-88 against the Islamic Republic.
"A criminal and a lawbreaker," whose reception of the prize has been warmly welcomed by the MKO and the Israeli intelligence chief, therefore, did not deserve a peace prize, Gharibabadi concluded, referring to Mohammadi.
MNA/PressTV