Mahsa Amini, Women's Movement in Iran Win EU's 2023 Sakharov Freedom Prize
On Thursday, the European Union parliament has awarded Iranian woman Mahsa Amini who died in police custody last year and the "Woman, Life, Freedom" movement in Iran for its annual Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought.
Document Women earlier reported the movement's nomination for the award alongside other finalists including two Nicaraguan rights activists and three women who have battled for abortion rights in Poland, El Salvador, and the United States.
"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," EU Parliament President Roberta Metsola said in a statement.
"By choosing them as laureates...this House remembers their struggle and continues to honour all those who have paid the ultimate price for liberty."
Amini, 22, born in Iran's western province of Kurdistan, died three days after being arrested for a purported hijab violation while in police custody in Tehran, September 2022.
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.
Protests began after she was killed and quickly grew into a movement to topple Iran's Islamic theocracy, which has been in place for four decades.
Under the banner "Woman, Life, Freedom", Iranian citizens have been protesting 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.