The ceremony, held during the Parliament’s Plenary Session, was a poignant tribute to the ongoing struggle for human rights and gender equality in Iran.
Zhina Mahsa Amini, a young woman whose tragic death in Iranian police custody sparked widespread protests, became a symbol of resistance against the Iranian regime’s oppressive policies. The Women, Life, Freedom Movement, galvanized by Amini’s death, has since been at the forefront of advocating for women’s rights and challenging the status quo in Iran.
The award was presented by Ms. Roberta Metsola, President of the European Parliament, in the presence of Mr. Josep Borrell, the EU’s High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy. Accepting the award on behalf of Amini and the movement were Mr. Saleh Nikbakht, Amini’s family lawyer, Ms. Afsoon Najafi, sister of Hadiss Najafi who was killed in the 2022 Iran protests, and Ms. Mersedah Shahin Kar, an athlete who suffered grievous injuries in the same uprising.
In her address, President Metsola emphasized the unyielding spirit of Iranian women, stating, “Their courage and resilience in their fight for justice, liberty, and human rights will not be stopped. Their voices cannot be silenced.” She highlighted the tragic escalation of violence since Amini’s death, with hundreds killed and thousands detained in the protests.
The message of Amini’s mother, Mrs. Mojgan Eftekhari, conveyed by their lawyer, expressed profound gratitude for the Sakharov Prize and lamented the missed opportunity to personally receive it due to the Iranian regime’s restrictions.
In a pre-ceremony press conference, President Metsola reaffirmed the European Parliament’s commitment to supporting the Iranian people’s aspirations for change. “This year’s Sakharov Prize serves as a tribute to all the brave women, men, and young people in Iran,” she said. The Parliament has adopted four resolutions in the past year, condemning the Iranian regime’s suppression of protesters and calling for sanctions against officials involved.
Addressing the European Union’s stance, Metsola revealed that the EU has been urged to escalate its sanctions against Iranian officials and to consider including the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) in the EU’s terrorist list. “This is not a position that we will let go of,” she affirmed, underlining the importance of the EU’s stand in this matter.
Concluding her remarks, Metsola stressed the symbolic significance of the Sakharov Prize: “It is more than a prize; it is a clear and strong message to our sisters in Iran that we stand by them in their pursuit of freedom and dignity.”
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