Mahsa Amini, a 22-year-old Kurdish-Iranian woman who died in police custody in Iran in 2022, has been awarded the European Union’s Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought. The prize also honors the Woman, Life, Freedom movement that emerged after her death and led protests for women’s rights in Iran.
Mahsa Amini was arrested in 2022 for allegedly violating the mandatory headscarf law for women in Iran, which requires them to cover their hair and body in public. She died in prison a few days later, under suspicious circumstances. The Iranian authorities claimed that she committed suicide, but her family and supporters disputed this and accused them of torture and murder.
Her death sparked outrage and grief among many Iranians, especially women, who took to the streets and social media to demand justice, equality, dignity and freedom. They formed the Woman, Life, Freedom movement, which used the hashtag #MahsaAmini to mobilize and organize demonstrations across the country. They also defied the headscarf law by removing their veils and waving them as flags of resistance.
The European Parliament announced on Thursday that it had awarded Mahsa Amini and the Woman, Life, Freedom movement the Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought, which recognizes human rights activists and dissidents around the world. The prize is named after Soviet scientist and dissident Andrei Sakharov and comes with a €50,000 endowment.
“Mahsa Amini was a brave young woman who fought for her rights and those of millions of other women in Iran. She paid the ultimate price for her courage. Her death was not in vain. She inspired a movement that will not stop until women in Iran are free from oppression and discrimination,” said David Sassoli, president of the European Parliament.
“Mahsa Amini is a symbol of resistance and hope for all women in Iran and beyond. She showed us that we can stand up to tyranny and injustice, even at the cost of our lives. She showed us that we are not alone, that we have each other, that we are powerful together. She showed us that we are Woman, Life, Freedom,” said Nasim Khosravi, spokesperson of the Woman, Life, Freedom movement.
Mahsa Amini is the first Iranian woman to receive the Sakharov Prize, and the second Iranian after lawyer Nasrin Sotoudeh, who won it in 2012. She is also the youngest recipient of the prize in its history.
The Iranian authorities have denied any responsibility for Mahsa Amini’s death and claimed that she committed suicide in prison. They have also arrested and harassed many of her supporters and activists from the Woman, Life, Freedom movement.
“We reject the illegitimate awarding of the Sakharov Prize to Mahsa Amini and her so-called movement. They are nothing but traitors and agents of foreign enemies who seek to undermine the Islamic Republic of Iran. Mahsa Amini was a criminal who violated the law and took her own life. Her supporters are terrorists who incite violence and chaos. The EU is interfering in our internal affairs and supporting terrorism,” said Saeed Khatibzadeh, Iranian foreign ministry spokesman.
Mahsa Amini’s family welcomed the award and expressed their gratitude to the European Parliament and the international community for their support.
“I dedicate this prize to Mahsa Amini, my sister, my hero, my angel. She was a kind, smart, beautiful person who loved life and wanted to make the world a better place. She did not deserve to die. She deserved to live. She deserved to be free. I miss her every day. I hope she is proud of me. I hope she is watching over me. I hope she is smiling,” said Sara Amini, Mahsa Amini’s younger sister.
Relevant articles:
– Mahsa Amini: Iranian woman who died in custody wins EU human rights prize, BBC News, October 19, 2023
– Iran’s Mahsa Amini awarded EU’s Sakharov human rights prize, The Guardian, October 19, 2023
– Mahsa Amini, Women’s Movement in Iran Win EU’s 2023 Sakharov Freedom Prize, Voice of America, October 19, 2023
– Mahsa Amini, Iran women’s movement win Sakharov Award from European Parliament, Yahoo News, October 19, 2023