Mahsima Amini, an Iranian human rights activist, was posthumously awarded the Andrei Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought by the European Parliament on December 9th. However, the Iranian government has denied her family the right to travel to France to receive the award.
Mahsima was a prominent advocate for women’s rights in Iran, and was a vocal critic of the Iranian government’s human rights abuses. She was arrested in 2019 and sentenced to five years in prison for her activism. She died in prison in October 2020, after being denied medical treatment for her cancer.
The Sakharov Prize is awarded annually to individuals or organizations that have made an outstanding contribution to the defense of human rights and freedom of thought. The award is named after the Soviet physicist and dissident Andrei Sakharov, who was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1975.
The European Parliament has condemned the Iranian government’s decision to deny Mahsima’s family the right to travel to France to receive the award. The Parliament has called on the Iranian government to respect the rights of its citizens and to allow Mahsima’s family to travel to France to receive the award.
The European Parliament has also called on the international community to stand in solidarity with Mahsima’s family and to support their struggle for justice and freedom. The Parliament has urged the international community to take action to ensure that Mahsima’s legacy is not forgotten and that her work for human rights and freedom of thought is recognized and honored.
Mahsima’s death has sparked outrage and protests in Iran and around the world. Her family and supporters have vowed to continue her fight for justice and freedom. The European Parliament’s decision to award her the Sakharov Prize is a fitting tribute to her courage and dedication to the cause of human rights and freedom of thought.
