Mahsa Amini and the Iranian movement "Woman, Life, Freedom" have won the top EU human rights prize. Amini, 22, died in custody for not wearing the required headscarf, leading to protests challenging Iranian authorities. The Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought, which acknowledges human rights advocates and dissidents, was awarded to her. European Parliament President Roberta Metsola described the day of Amini's death as one that would be remembered for its significance.
Ms. Metsola stated, "The tragic killing of 22-year-old Jina Mahsa Amini has been a pivotal moment, sparking a historic women-led movement." Last year, Mahsa Amini, an Iranian-Kurdish visitor to Tehran, was apprehended by the morality police for allegedly violating Iran's stringent dress code for women. Her passing led to the global "Woman, Life, Freedom" movement, which advocates for the cessation of Iran's mandatory headscarf and other discriminatory regulations affecting women.
According to a BBC report, Ms Amini's family and supporters said that she was killed, but Iranian authorities claim she died of a previously undisclosed medical condition.
The protests were met with a severe response from the authorities, resulting in the EU imposing sanctions on those accountable for human rights abuses in Iran last year. The Sakharov Prize takes it a step further by delivering a solidarity message.
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