European parliament. Sakharov Prize for Mahsa Amini and the Iranian Women, Life, Freedom Movement

The President of the European Parliament, Roberta Metsola, announced the winner in the plenary hall in Strasbourg on Thursday, following the decision of the Parliament’s Conference of Presidents. – September 16 was the anniversary of the murder of Jina Mahsa Amini in Iran. European parliament proudly stands with the brave and rebellious who continue to fight for equality, dignity and freedom in Iran – said Roberta Metsola.

– We stand on the side of those who, even after being released from prison, still keep alive (Movement – ed.) Woman, Life, Freedom. By selecting them as winners of the Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought, this House remembers their struggle and continues to honor all those who have paid the highest price for freedom, added the President of the European Parliament.

Jina Mahsa Amini was a 22-year-old Iranian Kurdish woman. She was arrested by Tehran’s religious police on September 13, 2022 for allegedly ignoring Iran’s strict veil laws, and died three days later in a Tehran hospital as a result of physical abuse inflicted on her in custody.

Her death sparked mass protests by women in Iran. Under the slogan “Woman, life, freedom”, they protested against the hijab law and other discriminatory regulations.

Following the brutal suppression of these protests by the Iranian regime, the European Parliament has repeatedly condemned the tragic situation in the field human rights in this country.

In October 2022, MEPs called for sanctions against Iranian officials involved in both the death of Jina Mahsa Amini and the regime’s repression, and expressed strong support for the peaceful protest movement in Iran.

In January 2023, MEPs demanded the imposition of further sanctions on the Iranian regime and the EU’s inclusion of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps on the terrorist list.

Award Ceremony The Sakharov Prize will be held on Wednesday, December 13, at the European Parliament in Strasbourg.

Award named after The Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought is awarded every year by the European Parliament. It was established in 1988 to honor people and organizations defending human rights and fundamental freedoms. It is named after the Soviet physicist and political dissident Andrei Sakharov, and the prize money is 50,000 euros.

Last year, Parliament awarded the award to the Ukrainian people.