By Thea Pieridou
Press Officer at the European Parliament Office in Cyprus
The European Parliament awards the prize for freedom of thought for the year 2023 to Jina Mahsa Amini and the Iranian women's movement "Woman, Life, Freedom".
Jina Mahsa Amini was a 22-year-old Kurdish woman from Iran. She was arrested by the police in Tehran on 13 September 2022 on charges of violating Iran's strict modesty laws and died in a Tehran hospital three days later after being physically abused while in custody. Her death sparked mass protests by women in Iran, who under the slogan "Woman, Life, Freedom" protest against the hijab law and other discriminatory laws. Following the violent suppression of these protests by the Iranian regime, the European Parliament has repeatedly condemned the dire human rights situation in the country.
The President of the European Parliament Roberta Metsola emphasized: "September 16 was the first anniversary of the murder of Jina Mahsa Amini in Iran. The European Parliament stands proudly with those who bravely and uncompromisingly continue to fight for equality, dignity and freedom in Iran. We stand with those who, even from prison, continue to keep Women, Life and Liberty alive. By selecting them for the 2023 Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought, this Parliament commemorates their struggle and continues to honor all those who have paid the ultimate price for freedom."
The Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought is awarded annually by the European Parliament. The award was established in 1988 to honor individuals and organizations that defend human rights and fundamental freedoms. It is named after the Soviet physicist and political dissident Andrei Zakharov and comes with a prize money of 50,000 euros. Last year, the European Parliament presented the award to the brave people of Ukraine, represented by its president, elected leaders and civil society.
