DUBAI, November 6. /TASS/. Imprisoned Iranian human rights activist and 2023 Nobel Peace Prize winner Narges Mohammadi has embarked on a hunger strike protesting against obligatory hijab wearing and the lack of medical assistance, her family said on Monday.

"Narges Mohammadi has informed the family that she launched a hunger strike several hours ago. We are worried over her health condition," Agence France Presse quoted her relatives.

According to the agency, Mohammadi needs urgent hospitalization but the prison administration has refused to take her to a hospital because she refused to put on headwear.

The Iranian human rights activist was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in early October. The Iranian foreign ministry slammed the Nobel Committee’s decision as a politically-motivated action.

Mohammadi has been detained in Iran more than ten times. Five times she was convicted and sentenced to a total for 31 years in prison. Thus, in 2011, she was sentenced to 11 years for "actions, aimed against national security and propaganda against the regime," but, in 2012, she was released after an international campaign in her defense. Between 2015 and 2020, Mohammadi was in custody again, and was released under pressure from international human rights organizations. Last time - in May, 2021 - she was sentenced to 2.5 years for "anti-state propaganda.".