Iranian human rights lawyer and Nobel Peace Prize laureate Narges Mohammadi has been urgently transferred from a prison in northwestern Iran to a hospital in Zanjan following a serious deterioration in her health, according to reports by The Associated Press.

The 53-year-old activist reportedly suffered a severe cardiac crisis after losing consciousness multiple times while in detention. Prison doctors in Zanjan concluded they could no longer manage her condition on-site, prompting the emergency transfer.

According to reporting by Sarah El Deeb, Mohammadi’s family described the hospitalization as a possible “last-minute” intervention, raising concerns about whether it will be sufficient to address her critical medical needs.

Her relatives and legal team allege that the incident follows a prolonged period of systemic medical neglect during her imprisonment. The Narges Mohammadi Foundation reported that she had fainted twice in her cell before being moved to a medical facility.

Lawyers who visited Mohammadi said fellow inmates first found her unconscious on March 24. During a subsequent examination at the prison clinic, a doctor reportedly indicated she may have suffered a heart attack. Since then, she has experienced ongoing chest pain and breathing difficulties.

Her lawyer, Mostafa Nili, stated that she had also been dealing with severe blood pressure fluctuations prior to the latest incidents. He added that after initially declining hospital transfer to consult her cardiologist, a neurologist later ordered her immediate relocation following a second loss of consciousness.

The foundation claims Mohammadi has endured approximately 140 days of medical neglect since her arrest on December 12. Her family has repeatedly called for her transfer to a specialized cardiac facility in Tehran.

In a message shared with the Associated Press, her brother, Hamidreza Mohammadi, said the family is “fighting for her life,” alleging that local prosecutors in Zanjan have obstructed access to appropriate care.

Nili confirmed that Mohammadi is currently in a cardiac care unit, where her condition remains unstable. Although a local medical official recommended suspending her sentence for one month to allow treatment, the decision has reportedly been referred to authorities in Tehran.

Mohammadi’s current imprisonment is part of a long history of arrests linked to her activism. She was already serving a combined sentence of over 13 years on charges including propaganda against the state and collusion against national security.

Her supporters say she previously suffered multiple heart attacks in detention, leading to emergency surgery in 2022. She was granted medical furlough in late 2024 but continued her activism, including participation in protests outside Evin Prison and engagement with international media.

She was re-arrested in December in Mashhad and later sentenced by a Revolutionary Court to an additional seven years in prison.

Her family also alleges that her condition worsened due to physical abuse during her arrest, claiming she was struck in the head, neck, and side.

Mohammadi was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 2023 while in detention, becoming one of the few laureates to receive the honor behind bars. The Nobel committee has previously condemned her treatment, while Iranian authorities have reportedly responded with increased pressure, including extended sentences and alleged harassment.