The European Parliament hosted the award ceremony for the 2023 Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought on Tuesday, with this year’s prize going to protest icon Jina Mahsa Amini, and the ‘Jin, Jiyan, Azadi’ (‘Woman, Life, Freedom’) movement which sprung up in Iran after her death, and spread world wide.
🔶European Parliament hosts 2023 Sakharov Freedom of Thought Prize, with this year's award going to protest icon Jina Mahsa Amini, and the 'Jin, Jiyan, Azadi' ('Woman, Life, Freedom') movement.#JinJiyanAzadi | #JinaMahsaAmini | #EuropeanParliment
🔗https://t.co/ZyZULxcExZ pic.twitter.com/0qehfo2Y7Z
— MedyaNews (@1MedyaNews) December 12, 2023
The family of laureate Amini were prevented from accepting the prize in person on behalf of their late daughter, when their passports were confiscated by Iranian authorities as they prepared to travel to the awards ceremony held in Strasbourg, France.
Family lawyer Saleh Nikbakht delivered a strong message at the event on behalf of Amini’s mother, Mojgan Eftekhari, who expressed deep grief for Jina and a determination that her daughter’s name would continue to serve as a symbol of freedom worldwide.
European Parliament President Roberta Metsola, during her awards speech, recognised attendee laureate representatives Afsoon Najafi and Mersedeh Shahinkar for their work as defenders of women’s rights in Iran. Metsola underlined the courage of freedom fighters in Iran, and pledged unwavering support. “The European Parliament listens to them and supports them. They are not alone,” she said.
Iranian-Kurdish woman Amini, 22, died on 13 September 2022 after being detained by Tehran’s morality police for allegedly failing to comply with Iran’s strict dress code. Her death sparked widespread protests against discriminatory laws, in particular the compulsory hijab, under the slogan ‘Woman, Life, Freedom’ (‘Jin, Jiyan, Azadî‘ in Kurdish, or ‘Zan, Zendegi, Azâdi‘ in Persian).
The European Parliament has consistently condemned the human rights situation in Iran and called for sanctions against those involved in Amini’s death and the regime’s repression. In a resolution adopted during November, MEPs underlined the need to support Sakharov and Nobel Prize laureates and highlighted recent attacks on women and women’s rights defenders.
