European Parliament awards Sakharov Prize to Mahsa Amini

By Vatican News staff reporter

The European Parliament awarded its annual Sakharov Prize to Mahsa Amini, who died in Iranian police custody last year, and to the Iranian Women's Movement.

The Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought is the highest tribute paid by the European Union to those who work for human rights.

The Sakharov Prize

It also gives recognition to individuals, groups and organisations that have made an outstanding contribution to protecting freedom of thought.

Through the prize and its associated network, the EU assists laureates, who are supported and empowered in their efforts to defend their causes. It was awarded for the first time in 1988 to Nelson Mandela and Anatoli Marchenko.

In a statement, EU Parliament President, Roberta Metsola, said, "On 16 September, we marked one year since the murder of Jina Mahsa Amini in Iran. The European Parliament proudly stands with the brave and defiant who continue to fight for equality, dignity and freedom in Iran." 

"By choosing them as laureates," she noted, "this House remembers their struggle and continues to honour all those who have paid the ultimate price for liberty."

Mahsa Amini, Women's movement in Iran

Mahsa Amini, 22, born in Iran's western province of Kurdistan, died in morality police custody in September last year after being arrested for allegedly flouting the Islamic Republic's mandatory dress code, for supposedly wearing a hijab headscarf in an improper fashion.  

According to Reuters, while Amini's family said she had been killed by blows to her head and limbs, the authorities said she had died due to existing medical problems.

Mahsa Amini's death sparked months of protests in Iran that spiralled into some of the worst political turmoil since the 1979 Islamic Revolution.

Under the banner "Woman, Life, Freedom", Iranian citizens have been protesting against laws obliging women to cover their hair and wear loose-fitting clothing.

Iranian security forces have continued their crackdown on dissent and briefly detained Amini's father on the anniversary of her death, Reuters reports.