Family unable to receive Sakharov Prize More than a year after her death, Mahsa Amini was supposed to be honored with the Sakharov Prize. However, Iran is refusing to allow her family to travel to Strasbourg to receive the award.

The Iranian authorities are preventing Mahsa Amini’s family from accepting the Sakharov Prize of the European Parliament on behalf of their deceased daughter. The US-based organization Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA) reported that the authorities had refused to allow Amini’s father, Amdjad, and two of her brothers to travel to Strasbourg.

Citing the family’s lawyer in France, Chirinne Ardakani, the news agency AFP reported that despite having valid visas, the departure from Iran had been prohibited. The passports of the family members had been confiscated. Now, lawyer Saleh Nikbacht, who is already in Paris, is supposed to accept the prize on behalf of the family.

Metsola: Truth must not be silenced

European Parliament President Roberta Metsola called on Tehran to “reverse its decision to prevent Mahsa Amini’s mother, father, and brother from traveling” on the online platform X (formerly Twitter). Metsola wrote that their place was in Strasbourg “to receive the Sakharov Prize, alongside the brave women from Iran.” She emphasized that “the truth must not be silenced.”

Posthumous honor in the European Parliament

The 22-year-old Mahsa Amini was posthumously awarded the Sakharov Prize. The ceremony is scheduled to take place on December 12 in the plenary chamber of the European Parliament in Strasbourg.

Since 1988, the prize has been honoring individuals or organizations that have advocated for the defense of human rights and freedom of expression. The award, named after Soviet dissident Andrei Sakharov, is endowed with €50,000.

Death sparked protests in Iran

Amini died in September 2022 after being arrested for allegedly wearing her headscarf too loosely. According to her family’s account, she died after being abused by the morality police. The Iranian authorities deny this.

Her death sparked an unprecedented protest movement under the slogan “Woman, Life, Freedom.” The Iranian security forces responded harshly to the protests. Hundreds of people died, and according to the human rights organization Amnesty International, more than 22,000 people were arrested.