112 Nobel Laureates Demand Iran Release Narges Mohammadi Immediately
New Age Islam News Bureau
13 May 2026
· 112 Nobel Laureates Demand Iran Release Narges Mohammadi Immediately
· EU Says Women Play Vital Role in Afghanistan’s Healthcare Sector
· International campaign to defend women’s armed self-organisation in Rojava
· Sheikha Bodour, Motivate launch plan to train women in publishing
· Women's centre could be 'true visionary's' legacy
· Filipino dialysis nurse in Riyadh reaches finals of $250,000 global award
· Iranian Journalist Elnaz Mohammadi Nominated for “Courage” Award by Reporters Without Borders
Compiled by New Age Islam News Bureau
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112 Nobel Laureates Demand Iran Release Narges Mohammadi Immediately
MAY 12, 2026
In a joint statement, 112 Nobel Prize laureates across the fields of science, literature, and peace have demanded the immediate and unconditional release of Nobel Peace Prize winner Narges Mohammadi. The statement was released on Tuesday, May 12, and coordinated by the Nobel Women’s Initiative in collaboration with the Narges Foundation.
This collective plea follows Mohammadi’s transfer to Tehran-Pars Hospital for specialized treatment amid escalating international concern regarding her physical condition. The signatories expressed deep alarm over her deteriorating health and urged both the authorities of the Islamic Republic and the international community to act “without delay” for her freedom.
The group of signatories includes prominent figures from the fields of Chemistry, Economics, Literature, Medicine, Physics, and Peace. They warned that Mohammadi’s life may be in “immediate danger,” highlighting that she was denied access to specialized medical services for months.
Narges Mohammadi was transported by ambulance to Tehran-Pars Hospital on May 10 and is currently under the care of a specialized medical team. However, the laureates emphasized that her hospitalization does not erase the “injustice of her imprisonment.”
Jody Williams said: “No one should be imprisoned for peaceful protest or defending human rights.”
Tawakkol Karman described Mohammadi as the “fearless voice of women standing against oppression” and called for continued global support for Iranian women. Leymah Gbowee stressed that Mohammadi’s courage should not come at the cost of being deprived of basic human rights and medical treatment.
The statement notes that reports from the Narges Foundation and other credible sources indicate her physical condition has become “critical,” involving severe weight loss, unstable blood pressure, and serious cardiac symptoms.
On Sunday, May 10, Mohammadi’s lawyer, Mostafa Nili announced that the human rights activist was transferred from a hospital in Zanjan to Pars Hospital in Tehran following an order to suspend the execution of her sentence for medical reasons.
“Today, Mrs. Narges Mohammadi was discharged from the Zanjan hospital and transferred by ambulance to Pars Hospital in Tehran to be hospitalized after an order was issued to halt her sentence for treatment,” Nili wrote on X (formerly Twitter).
He added that the order followed a forensic medical opinion citing the “necessity of pursuing treatment outside of prison and under the supervision of her medical team due to multiple illnesses.”
Despite the temporary suspension, the Narges Foundation stated: “Suspending the execution of the sentence is not enough. Narges Mohammadi requires specialized and permanent care… and we must ensure that she is never returned to prison to serve the remainder of the unjust sentences she faces.”
Mohammadi, who was being held in Zanjan Prison, was first hospitalized in that city on April 30 following a sharp decline in her health. Since then, her family and foundation have campaigned for her transfer to Tehran to receive care from trusted physicians, a call that has been echoed by international organizations and human rights activists worldwide.
Source: iranwire.com
https://iranwire.com/en/news/152315-112-nobel-laureates-demand-immediate-release-of-narges-mohammadi/
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EU Says Women Play Vital Role in Afghanistan’s Healthcare Sector
May 13, 2026
The European Union says that women make up a significant part of the workforce providing healthcare services and play a vital role by saving lives and contributing to the future of Afghanistan.
Marking International Nurses Day on Tuesday, May 12, the organization said that nurses, especially women, are the “unsung heroes” of Afghanistan’s healthcare system and play an important role in delivering medical services.
The European Union also reaffirmed its support for the education and professional development of female healthcare workers, including nurses, in Afghanistan.
This comes as, following the Taliban’s return to power in Afghanistan, women’s education and employment in various sectors, including healthcare, have been banned.
The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) had previously warned that if restrictions on girls’ education and women’s employment continue, Afghanistan will face a shortage of more than 25,000 female teachers and healthcare workers by 2030.
Source: 8am.media
https://8am.media/eng/eu-women-vital-role-afghanistan-healthcare/
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International campaign to defend women’s armed self-organisation in Rojava
Peter Boyle
May 13, 2026
A coalition of women’s organisations in North and East Syria (Rojava) launched a mass campaign, “We are all YPJ — Self-defence is our natural right”, on April 26, demanding that the Rojava revolution’s Women’s Protection Units (YPJ) be included in Syria’s integrated armed forces.
Mass rallies have taken place in Europe and prominent women’s rights leaders from around the world have declared their support.
The campaign has six demands:
1. Recognition of the YPJ within the Syrian Ministry of Defence.
2. Preservation of the YPJ’s structure in the Rojava regions.
3. Protection and consolidation of women’s achievements in Rojava.
4. Release of detainees, return of the bodies of martyrs and disclosure of the fate of missing women.
5. Support for YPJ’s integration by relevant international actors.
6. Strengthening of women’s participation in military and security institutions.
Since the January 30 ceasefire agreement, the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) have been negotiating with the United States-backed Syrian Transitional Government (STG) about the integration of their armed forces in a way that supports the peaceful unification of a country that has been torn by civil war since 2011.
The Kurdish-led People’s Protection Units (YPG) and the YPJ were part of the SDF, but while agreement has been made to integrate four brigades of the SDF, stationed in Rojava to assure security for the Kurdish-majority regions, the STG under President Ahmed al-Sharaa (who was once an Al Qaeda and Hayat Tahrir al-Sham commander) is balking at integrating the women fighters of the YPJ into the Syrian armed forces.
According to Meghan Bodette of the Kurdish Peace Institute, while Syrian Kurdish leaders want YPJ fighters to be allowed to integrate into these four new brigades, so far, the STG has rejected this demand because its leaders are ideologically opposed to women’s equality.
Women’s right to self-defence is non-negotiable, insists the YPJ, and its recognition within the Syrian army, whilst preserving its unique structure and command system, is part of a democratic solution and the integration process.
The YPJ says that building peace and security in Syria requires the active and organised participation of women in decision-making and security institutions.
The actual experience of the YPJ — first formed in 2013 — expressed women's will to protect their communities and defend dignity and shared living in the face of unspeakable violence and violations of human rights during the civil war, not least by the Islamic State In Syria (ISIS). ISIS controlled much of Syria and Iraq until it was defeated by the YPG and YPJ at the cost of more than 11,000 martyrs.
YPJ fighters have been the driving force in protection against terrorism and extreme violence and serve as a moral and social force that has helped protect women from violence and extremism and reinforced the values of women’s participation, equality and justice.
The YPJ has had a powerful impact on women in Syria and worldwide, said YPJ Commander Rohilat Afrin in a video statement issued on May 10.
“The YPJ is not just an armed force,” she said. It is a “culture of defending ourselves, even in our own homes. The YPJ’s strength is the strength of self-organisation.”
Recognition means peace and stability
“The recognition of the YPJ will lead to peace and stability in Syria. It will lead to diversity and to women participating in the system with strength.
“One of our fundamental goals is to defend these achievements [of the Rojava revolution] as part of that diversity and legacy that women have trusted in.”
“We are currently in the midst of discussions and we are working to reach an agreement that women are officially protected.
“This is not an extra right because fundamentally it is about taking responsibility for the legacy of the past 15 years. I can say with confidence that the YPJ is recognised by society as legitimate…
“In the framework of integration, a lot of tasks are discussed. Integration means how we will live together: the Kurdish people with their rights and other parts of society with theirs.
“Everyone must feel represented in the new Syria…
“One of our greatest goals [in these discussions] is to ensure that women’s rights in Syria are guaranteed. And the Rojava Revolution, which is a women’s revolution, is not just history that we tell each other every day…
“Within this system, within all organisations, women have proven themselves…”
Afrin added that if women’s rights are guaranteed in the constitution, this will be a guarantee for the future of the whole of Syria.
A foundational value of the YPJ is that there can be no democratic society without women’s liberation.
Women's participation and organisation within military and security institutions also aligns with the principles of United Nations Security Council Resolution 1325 on women, peace and security, which emphasises the fundamental role of women in building stability and peace, said Afrin.
Until this is achieved, Syria cannot be regarded as safe or stable, she said.
Socialist feminists in Australia have issued the following solidarity statement in support of the YPJ:
Solidarity statement from socialist feminists in Australia
We socialist feminists in Australia stand in solidarity with the freedom fighters of the Women's Protection Units (YPJ) who continue to defend the rights, dignity and freedom of women of all nationalities, ethnicities and religions that they fought for and won in the Rojava Revolution.
Women’s participation in all fields, including participating in organised community defence and protection, is a right that must be defended. Recognising the YPJ and respecting its right to continue to exist in a new Syria is essential if Syria is to have a democratic, united and peaceful future.
The statement is signed by: Sue Bolton, Lisa Macdonald, Sue Bull, Susan Price, Pip Hinman, Valeria Ledda, Aisha Sultan, Markela Panegyres, Arlo Valmai, Olivia Carney, Nova Sobieralski, Paula Sanchez, Dr Coral Wynter, Robynne Murphy, Merrilyn Treasure, Karen Fletcher, Rachel Evans, Zoe Davison, Janet Parker, Mary Merkenich, Sally Atkinson, Laura Smith, Catherine Brown, Melissa Johns, Carine Visschers, Melanie Pittard, Alexandra Rosche, Dr Kamala Emanuel, Laurie MacSween, Philippa Skinner, Sonia Qadir, Norrian Rundle, Candice Alisha, Meredith Lawrence, Jessie Rye, Sarah Hathway, Jepke Goudsmit, Juanita Spinelli, Paula Corvalan, Gabrielle McCutcheon, Chloe de Silva, Jacqueline Kriz, Aaisha Slee, Steffi Leedham, Karyn Brown, Zara Lomas, Bernadette Krone.
Source: greenleft.org.au
https://www.greenleft.org.au/2026/1453/world/international-campaign-defend-womens-armed-self-organisation-rojava
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Sheikha Bodour, Motivate launch plan to train women in publishing
May 13, 2026
PublisHer and Motivate Media Group have formed a partnership to establish PublisHer Pathways, a four-week immersive internship programme to address the gap between academic preparation and the realities of working inside a media company.
The agreement, signed by Sheikha Bodour Al Qasimi, Founder of PublisHer, and Ian Fairservice, Managing Partner & Group Editor-in-Chief of Motivate Media Group, at the House of Wisdom, in Sharjah, will deliver a one-year programme, comprising up to two cycles per year at Motivate’s Dubai offices, for five women residents in the UAE per cycle.
By placing each cohort inside Motivate’s operations for a month of structured rotations, hands-on projects and direct access to senior leadership, PublisHer Pathways tackles the issue of bridging from the academic world to the professional.
The programme
Each four-week cycle immerses the interns in the operations of four departments as follows: Editorial and Content Development; Marketing, PR and Audience Engagement; Advertising, Sales and Revenue Models; Product, Digital Platforms and Business Strategy.
Sheikha Bodour with Ian Fairservice and other dignitaries at the event.
Within each rotation, participants shadow a designated team for a week, working alongside staff rather than observing at arm’s length.
The programme also includes a masterclass with a senior industry leader, a guided visit to the printing press, individual mentorship from a Motivate team member, and a capstone project developed collaboratively by the interns and presented to Motivate leadership.
Graduates will receive a joint certificate from PublisHer and Motivate Media Group and will be welcomed into the PublisHer Alumnae Network.
PublisHer Founder H.H. Bodour Al Qasimi said: “PublisHer Pathways is a direct response to something we hear consistently from women across the industry – that the transition from education into professional publishing is harder than it should be and that access to real experience, inside real organizations, remains sporadic and uneven. I’m grateful to Ian and the whole Motivate team for having confidence in our mission and becoming the first to say yes.”
Ian Fairservice, Managing Partner & Group Editor-in-Chief, of Motivate Media Group added: “At Motivate, we believe the best way to understand publishing is to be part of it and to see how editorial, commercial and digital teams work together in real time. PublisHer Pathways gives participants that exposure, and in doing so, helps strengthen the next generation of talent coming into the industry.”
Selection
The programme is open to women based in the UAE at an early or mid-career stage, with a background or strong interest in publishing, media, literature or the creative arts.
Applications, made via the PublisHer website (www.womeninpublishing.org), will be assessed by a four-strong jury, with two representatives from PublisHer and two from Motivate. Applications are now open and will close on 30 June 2026. Shortlisted candidates will be notified on 15 July 2026, with the first cohort commencing on 3 August 2026.
Looking ahead
This first cohort will run as a pilot, though the goal is for PublisHer Pathways to be adopted by publishing houses in other regions, with PublisHer members and allies replicating the programme in their own markets. Certification for the inaugural cohort will be presented in person at the Sharjah Booksellers Conference on 18 September 2026.
About PublisHer
PublisHer is a global platform dedicated to the advancement of women in the publishing industry created in 2019 by Bodour Al Qasimi (founder and CEO of Kalimat Group, UAE, former president of IPA International Publishers Association). Its mission is to create spaces for female publishing professionals to connect, learn and support each other through membership, mentorship programmes, networking events and initiatives. These programmes have been developed with the support of leading women in international publishing to empower women while addressing the ongoing imbalances in the international book industry.
PublisHer has grown into an influential global movement that inspires and educates women in publishing so that they may pursue and realise their professional goals, while tackling structural inequities through practical, real-world, solution-based strategies.
About Motivate Media Group
Established in 1979, Motivate Media Group operates in partnership between Ian Fairservice and Obaid Humaid Al Tayer, former Minister of State for Financial Affairs, UAE. With a staff of over 200 experienced professionals based out of the Dubai headquarters, and the Abu Dhabi, Riyadh and London offices, Motivate’s wider publishing expertise includes award-winning print and digital titles such as What’s On, Emirates Woman and Gulf Business.
Source: gulftoday.ae
https://www.gulftoday.ae/news/2026/05/13/sheikha-bodour-motivate-launch-plan-to-train-women-in-publishing
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Women's centre could be 'true visionary's' legacy
May 13, 2026
A centre for the empowerment of women in Bradford could be the legacy of a "true visionary" from the city.
The death of Bana Gora, co-founder of the Bradford-based Muslim Women's Council, was announced on 1 May.
The organisation, which describes itself as "committed to empowering women and strengthening communities", now wants to fulfil her ambition of opening a multi-purpose centre to support its work.
Saadia Mushtaq, office manager at the Muslim Women's Council, said: "Bana wanted to make sure that women had a chance to be the best in their lives. That's what we want to carry on with as her legacy."
The Muslim Women's Council has already purchased the building they hope will become the multi-purpose space, a former Chinese restaurant on Saltaire Road in Shipley.
On the inspiration behind 52-year-old Gora's idea for the centre, Mushtaq said: "I think she had seen a lot of women suffer in the work that she had done over the years, but she also saw the potential.
"It wasn't just about building a centre, it was about creating an opportunity for future generations as well, and providing that dignity and as many opportunities to come through this centre."
The organisation wants to raise £150,000 for the first phase of the project, which would see a kitchen and café opened, with profits put towards future phases including an extension.
If successful, they hope the centre could open next year.
Mushtaq said: "I think the centre is needed to empower women in the community, to provide a safe multi-purpose space so that we can run our sessions here, provide a space for women to network, get to know each other and develop themselves and their skills.
"It isn't just for Muslim women, we do want to encourage women from all walks of life to come and create those relationships."
Source: bbc.com
https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cp3pk2k3zqvo
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Filipino dialysis nurse in Riyadh reaches finals of $250,000 global award
BASMAH ALBASRAWI
May 12, 2026
RIYADH: Riyadh-based Filipino nurse Dinah Sevilla has been named among the top 10 finalists, out of 134,000 applicants, for a $250,000 global nursing award.
The overall winner of the 2026 fifth Aster Guardians Global Nursing Award will be announced at an event in India later this year.
Sevilla, representing Saudi Arabia, highlights the quality of healthcare professionals working in the Kingdom, with their impact on patient care, innovation and community health, according to Aster.
She currently works as the head nurse of peritoneal dialysis at King Saud University Medical City and King Khalid Hospital in Riyadh. She was recognized for emphasizing culturally-aware patient education to improve home-based dialysis care, and reduce complications.
According to Aster, Sevilla’s unit achieved a peritonitis rate of 0.07 percent, significantly below the global benchmark of 0.40 percent, simultaneously reducing hospital and emergency room visits. Her work underscores the impact of nurse-led dedication in chronic care.
Speaking to Arab News, Sevilla said: “I know this is a professional and personal achievement, but at the same time, this comes with responsibility, I want to strengthen dialysis awareness, especially to support unprivileged patients.”
She added that her mission includes promoting the idea that life with kidney disease can still be beautiful and meaningful, as she has worked to encourage home dialysis and independence, regardless of a patient’s background.
Sevilla said that navigating cultural differences has been a fundamental part of her journey as a nurse in the Kingdom.
“Here in Saudi Arabia, an Arabic course is becoming mandatory for all the new staff, because the more you speak the language of the people, the more you will understand, the more you can show your empathy, your compassion to their treatment and to their feelings,” she explained.
She said her commitment to patient care comes from her Filipino background, telling Arab News that she worked in the Philippines for almost six years at the start of her career before moving to the Kingdom.
“I consider this to be one of my greatest blessings of my life and career, because when I first arrived here in 2011, I can truly say that Saudi Arabia has a special place in my heart as I’m forever grateful for the opportunities, growth and experiences.”
She started as a staff nurse before being transferred to care for COVID-19 patients and finally, in 2022, becoming a head nurse.
Sevilla added that Filipino nurses “are known worldwide for their hard work, caring hearts, and commitment to patient care.” And she remains committed to improving care, promoting independence, and conducting evidence-based research for dialysis patients.
The Aster Guardians Global Award has had a steady increase in participation. Last year’s fourth edition had over 100,000 applicants.
Source: arabnews.com
https://www.arabnews.com/node/2643305/saudi-arabia
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Iranian Journalist Elnaz Mohammadi Nominated for “Courage” Award by Reporters Without Borders
MAY 12, 2026
Reporters Without Borders (RSF) has announced that Iranian journalist Elnaz Mohammadi is among the nominees for the organization’s 2026 “Courage” Award. The award recognizes journalists and media outlets that continue their professional work and defend journalism in hostile environments despite threats to their freedom and safety.
The Press Freedom Awards ceremony is scheduled to take place on June 1 in Marseille during the 77th World News Media Congress. Explaining her nomination, RSF described Elnaz Mohammadi as a symbol of “exceptional courage” in the face of the systematic suppression of press freedom in Iran.
According to RSF: As the Social Editor of the newspaper Ham-Mihan, Mohammadi played a major role in covering the social aftermath of the “Woman, Life, Freedom” movement following the death of Mahsa Amini in 2022.
Ham-Mihan was later shut down by the Iranian government in 2026 because of its coverage of the protests. Mohammadi was arrested in February 2023 and sentenced to three years in prison on charges of “collusion” and “assembly against national security,” a verdict RSF says was issued solely because of her journalistic work.
Reporters Without Borders stated that despite judicial pressure, imprisonment, and losing her job, Mohammadi has continued her media activities and advocacy for free access to information. In the Courage category, she will compete alongside journalists from the United States, Lebanon, Myanmar, and Venezuela.
This year’s final list of nominees includes 19 journalists and photojournalists, five media outlets, one advocate for the right to information, and one journalist support group from 25 countries competing across the categories of Courage, Impact, Independence, and Investigative Journalism.
Source: iranwire.com
https://iranwire.com/en/news/152295-iranian-journalist-elnaz-mohammadi-nominated-for-courage-award-by-reporters-without-borders/
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