Mahsa Amini, women’s protest in Iran win EU’s Sakharov freedom prize

The Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought, also known as the Sakharov Prize, has been awarded to Iranian woman Mahsa Amini who died in September 2022 in the custody of Iranian police. The European Union (EU) parliament also awarded its annual Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought to the “Woman, Life, Freedom” protest in the Islamic Republic of Iran.

Roberta Metsola, the President of the European Parliament, said, “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.”

The Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought

The Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought is a prestigious award by the European Parliament. The honorary award is given to people who have dedicated their lives to human rights and freedom of thought. It is presented by the European Parliament. It honors human rights activists and dissidents. 

European Parliament President Roberta Metsola said, “The brutal murder of 22-year-old Jina Mahsa Amini has triggered a women-led movement that is making history.”

What happened to Mahsa Amini?

Mahsa Amini was a 22 year old Iranian woman. On September 13 2022, she was visiting Tehran, the capital of Iran. Iranian-Kurdish Mahsa Amini was arrested by the country’s morality police for allegedly wearing a loose hijab. Three days later, she died in a hospital in Tehran. 

Human rights activists and Mahsa Amini’s family blamed Iranian morality police for her death. They said that the morality police beat Mahsa Amini because she was wearing a loose hijab. She was left unconscious and her body was covered with wounds.

Mahsa Amini’s untimely death led to a global movement called “Woman, Life, Freedom,” calling for an end to mandatory hijab laws and other discriminatory laws.

Women went into the streets to protest Mahsa Amini’s death. They burned their hijabs, calling for an end to discrimination in the country. 

Women’s protest in Iran

Women’s protest in Iran was lauded by world leaders across the world. The women’s protest movement called for an end of the Iranian regime.

Many Iranian journalists and activists reported the protest movement. Mahsa Amini and the Iranian “Woman, Life, Freedom” movement led to the worst political turmoil since the 1979 Islamic Revolution.

Recently, Iran’s Narges Mohammadi also won the Nobel Peace Prize for women’s rights for her “fight against the oppression of women in Iran.” She fought against the Iranian regime for the promotion of human rights in Iran.