Mahsa Amini and the Women, Life, Freedom movement in Iran that was triggered by the death of the 22-year-old are among the three shortlisted nominees for this year's Sakharov Prize, the European Parliament’s top rights award.
Amini, a Kurdish-Iranian woman who died in Tehran last year while in the custody of the notorious morality police for an alleged hijab infraction, and the movement were nominated by the parliament’s three largest parties, making her the favorite to be chosen for the prize when Parliament President Roberta Metsola and the political group leaders make their decision on October 19.
The nomination of Amini and the movement is a “recognition for their brave efforts to stand up for women’s rights,” said David McAllister, chair of the EU parliament’s foreign affairs committee.
“The parliament stands with all of those around the world who dedicate their lives to defending democratic values,” he added in a statement on October 12.
Amini’s death in September 2022 triggered anti-government protests in Iran which represent the biggest threat to the Islamic government since the 1979 revolution.
The authorities responded to the unrest with a crackdown on demonstrations that has left hundreds dead and thousands injured.
More recently, 16-year-old high-school student Armita Garavand was reportedly assaulted by the city's notorious morality police on the Tehran subway on October 1 for not wearing a hijab, or Islamic head scarf.
The other shortlisted nominees for this year’s Sakharov Prize are rights activists Vilma Nunez de Escorcia and Monsignor Rolando José Álvarez Lagos from Nicaragua and three women who have fought for abortion rights -- Justyna Wydrzynska from Poland, Morena Herrera from El Salvador, and Colleen McNicholas from the United States.
The Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought is awarded each year by the European Parliament. It was set up in 1988 to honor individuals and organizations defending human rights and fundamental freedoms and comes with an sum of 50,000 euro ($53,000).
The prize is named in honor of Soviet physicist and political dissident Andrei Sakharov.
Last year, the European Parliament awarded the prize to the people of Ukraine, represented by their president, elected leaders, and civil society, amid Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
Other previous winners include the jailed Russian opposition figure Aleksei Navalny, the democratic opposition in Belarus, and the jailed advocate for China’s Uyghur minority, Ilham Tohti.
This year’s winner will receive the award at a ceremony during the European Parliament’s December 13 plenary sitting in Strasbourg.