The European Union’s top human rights prize has been awarded to Mahsa Amini, the 22-year-old Kurdish-Iranian woman whose death in police custody last year sparked an historic women’s rights movement.
It’s been a bit over a year since Amini was arrested by Iran’s morality police for allegedly not wearing a headscarf properly in Tehran. She died on September 16, 2022– three days after her arrest– with family and local media alleging she’d been bashed by police.
What followed was a wave of protests across the country, which spread globally to become the “Women, Life, Freedom” movement– those calling for justice and human rights for the women of Iran. Leading the calls has been women themselves, many of whom are publicly removing the compulsory Islamic headscarf, or hijab, within Iran.
Iranian authorities, who’ve violently cracked down on these protests, have killed 500 people and detained 22,000, according to rights groups.
Now, both Amini and her movement have received the EU’s Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought for their defence of “human rights and fundamental freedoms”.
European Parliament President Roberta Metsola made the announcement on Thursday, saying Amini had triggered a “historic” women-led movement in the country and hoped the award would “serve as a tribute to the brave and defiant women, men and young people of Iran” who are leading the fight for change.
“The world has heard the chants of ‘Women, Life, Liberty’,” said Metsola. “Three words that have become a rallying cry for all those standing up for equality, for dignity and for freedom in Iran.”
President of the EU Commission, Ursula von der Leyen has said this year’s prize “sends a clear signal to the world: These brave Iranian women & girls deserve our solidarity and support”.
The Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought was set up in 1988 to honour individuals and organisations defending human rights and fundamental freedoms. It’s named after Soviet physicist and political dissident Andrei Sakharov and the prize money is 50,000 euros.
Last year, the brave people of Ukraine– represented by their President, elected leaders and civil society– were awarded the prize.
Other finalists this year included Vilma Núñez de Escorcia and Roman Catholic Bishop Rolando Álvarez– both fighting for the defense of human rights in Nicaragua– and a trio of women from Poland, El Salvador and the United States leading a fight for “free, safe and legal abortion”.
The award ceremony will take place on 13 December 2023 at the European Parliament in Strasbourg.