Iran’s Mahsa Amini Finalist For EU’s Top Human Rights Prize
The European Parliament Thursday announced the finalists for this year’s prestigious Sakharov Prize that includes Mahsa Amini and the Woman Life Freedom Movement in Iran.
The European Parliament Thursday announced the finalists for this year’s prestigious Sakharov Prize that includes Mahsa Amini and the Woman Life Freedom Movement in Iran.
Last year, the death of Mahsa Amini, the 22-year-old Kurdish-Iranian woman while in police custody for improper attire, sparked one of the most widespread anti-government protests across the country. The crackdown on protests resulted in hundreds of deaths and thousands of arrests by authorities, according to human rights organizations.
The Woman Life Freedom Movement has gained international attention in support of Iranian women who have been enduring decades of oppression and enforced hijab by the Islamic Republic’s regime since 1979.
The Sakharov Prize is awarded each year by the European Parliament since 1988 to honor individuals and organizations that defend human rights and basic freedoms. The winning laureates for 2023 selected by the European Parliament will receive the prize in a ceremony in December in Strasbourg.
Previous recipients of the prize include Nelson Mandela and Malala Yousafzai, who also won the Nobel Peace Prize.
The shortlist is the latest show of recognition of the plight of Iranian women by the international community. Last week, jailed activist Narges Mohammadi was awarded the 2023 Nobel Peace Prize for what the committee called “her fight against the oppression of women in Iran and her fight to promote human rights and freedom for all.”
Meanwhile, days after the one-year anniversary of Mahsa Amini’s death in September, Iranian parliament passed a chastity and hijab bill to impose heavier penalties on women who do not follow the compulsory Islamic dress code.
