Nobel Peace Prize laureate Narges Mohammadi was granted a temporary release from an Iranian prison on Wednesday following a complex surgery to address cancer concerns, during which part of a bone in her right leg was removed, her supporters reported.

Footage from Tehran showed Mohammadi stepping out of an ambulance with her black hair uncovered by a hijab and her right leg encased in a fabric cast. Calling into the street, she exclaimed, “Hello freedom! Women, life, freedom! Freedom is our right! Long live freedom!”

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According to a campaign advocating for Mohammadi, the temporary release will last 21 days, after which she is expected to return to prison to serve the remainder of her sentence. The Iranian government has not officially acknowledged her medical furlough, despite calls from her supporters for her permanent release. They argue that Mohammadi, 52, requires at least three months of recovery in a safe and sanitary environment to heal properly, emphasizing that her imprisonment for peaceful activism was unjust.

Mohammadi is currently serving a combined prison sentence of 13 years and nine months on charges of colluding against state security and spreading propaganda. Despite repeated arrests and prolonged incarceration, she has continued to advocate for human and women’s rights, including supporting the 2022 women-led protests following the death of Mahsa Amini, during which many women defied Iran's hijab mandate.

Mohammadi's health has been a major concern during her imprisonment, with her supporters reporting multiple heart attacks and emergency surgery in 2022. A bone lesion suspected to be cancerous led to her recent operation, her lawyer revealed earlier this month.

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Rebecca Vincent of Reporters Sans Frontières expressed relief over Mohammadi's temporary release, describing it as a positive step but stressing the need for sufficient recovery time at home. “We remain deeply concerned about her health and urge the Iranian authorities to ensure her proper recovery,” Vincent said.

Mohammadi’s release coincides with growing domestic discontent in Iran, where economic struggles fueled by sanctions over its nuclear program have led to protests and government crackdowns. The impending return of U.S. President-elect Donald Trump has raised concerns about the potential resumption of a "maximum pressure" policy against Iran, further complicating the country’s challenges.