"Symbol of freedom": EU Parliament honors Mahsa Amini posthumously with Sakharov Prize
"I would have liked to speak here on behalf of all the women of my country," explained Amini's mother. "We were denied this opportunity in violation of all legal and human norms," the letter continued. The Iranian authorities prevented Amini's parents and her brother from leaving Iran on Saturday despite having a valid visa and confiscated their passports.
"This treatment is another example of what people in Iran experience on a daily basis," said the President of the European Parliament, Roberta Metsola. Mahsa Amini died for women's rights and freedom in her country, Metsola continued. "This year's Sakharov Prize is a tribute to all the courageous women in Iran."
The 22-year-old Amini died in September 2022 after being arrested for allegedly wearing a headscarf that was too loose. According to her family, she died after being mistreated by the morality police. The Iranian authorities deny this.
Amini's death sparked an unprecedented protest movement under the slogan"Woman, Life, Freedom". The Iranian security forces cracked down on the protests. Hundreds of people died and, according to the human rights organization Amnesty International, more than 22,000 people were arrested.
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- Despite being posthumously awarded the Sakharov Prize, Mahsa Amini's mother regretted not being able to speak at the European Parliament, citing Iranian authorities' denial of their departure.
- The European Parliament, recognizing Mahsa Amini as a "symbol of freedom", bestowed the Sakharov Prize upon her posthumously in Strasbourg, honoring her dedication to women's rights and freedom in Iran.
- With the Sakharov Prize, the EU Parliament honored Mahsa Amini, a 22-year-old woman who tragically lost her life in September 2022 due to alleged mistreatment by Iran's morality police.
- Mahsa Amini's brother was also denied the opportunity to attend the ceremony in Strasbourg, as the Iranian authorities prevented her family from leaving Iran even with a valid visa and confiscated their passports.
- The posthumous Sakharov Prize, presented to Mahsa Amini, was considered a significant symbol by the European Parliament, signifying its support for the "Woman, Life, Freedom" protest movement she inspired in Iran.
- Amini's family received the news of her posthumous award with "symbolic" significance, as the Sakharov Prize is named after Soviet dissident Andrei Sakharov and honors individuals fighting for freedom and human rights.
- The death of Mahsa Amini and the subsequent protests in Iran, which became known as the "Woman, Life, Freedom" movement, have led to hundreds of deaths and over 22,000 arrests, according to Amnesty International.
- Mahsa Amini's posthumous recognition through the Sakharov Prize "symbolized" the European Parliament's solidarity with the Iranian people, advocating for their freedom and human rights despite Iranian authorities' denial.
- In her letter, Amini's mother emphasized the unjust treatment her family received, including the prevention from leaving Iran, and she hoped that the Sakharov Prize would bring attention to the struggle of women in her country for fundamental freedoms.
- The European Parliament, with its posthumous award of the Sakharov Prize to Mahsa Amini, serves as a "symbol" of its dedication to supporting dissidents and advocating for human rights, particularly in the face of oppressive regimes like the Iranian authorities.
Source: www.stern.de
