The 2023 Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought was awarded to Jina Mahsa Amini and the “Jin, Jiyan, Azadi” (Woman, Life, Freedom) Movement in Iran. The family of the slain Kurdish woman is not allowed to leave the country to receive the prize.

The Islamic Republic's authorities have barred the family of Mahsa Amini from leaving Iran to attend a ceremony in Strasbourg, where she is to be honored with the prestigious Sakharov Prize. Hours before Amini's family was set to depart for France on December 8, authorities at Imam Khomeini International Airport prevented them from boarding their flight, according to media reports. Authorities confiscated their passports and informed them that they were not authorized to leave the country.

118 members of the European Parliament released an appeal calling on Tehran to allow the family of the murdered Kurdish woman Jina Mahsa Amini to come to France to receive the Sakharov Prize.

The open letter penned by MPs states the following:

“We, members of the European Parliament, have learned that in the night of Friday to Saturday, Iranian authorities have barred the family of Jina Mahsa Amini from leaving the country to come to the European Parliament in Strasbourg and receive the 2023 Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought awarded this year to Jina Mahsa Amini and the ‘Woman, Life, Freedom’ movement in Iran.

Iranian authorities confiscated their passports and prevented them from boarding their flight to France. A ban on leaving the country has been illegally imposed on them. This measure is unlawful as they are not subject to any charge or prosecution. Mr. Amini had informed the authorities well in advance of their intention to travel to France to take part in the award ceremony and all members of the family are in possession of visas issued by the French authorities.

This restriction is aimed at silencing Jina Mahsa Amini’s family, preventing them from speaking out about the Islamic Republic’s outrageous repression of women’s rights, human rights and fundamental freedoms in Iran. It mirrors the refusal of Iranian authorities to let Narges Mohammadi, laureate of the 2023 Peace Nobel Prize, travel to Oslo to receive her prize.

We cannot tolerate this, the truth must not be silenced and the face of this incredible liberation movement should be shown to Europe and the world.

We call on Iranian authorities to retract this decision and to allow Jina Mahsa Amini’s mother, father and brother to travel to the European Parliament in Strasbourg on Tuesday to receive the 2023 Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought.”

Background

22-year-old Kurdish woman Jina Mahsa Amini was arrested by the so-called morality police on 13 September 2022 during a family visit in the Iranian capital Tehran because she did not wear her hijab as prescribed. She was severely tortured and fell into a coma in custody, and died on 16 September at the intensive care unit of Kasra Hospital in Tehran. 

The state femicide of Jina Mahsa Amini triggered a revolution under the motto "Jin, Jiyan, Azadî" (Woman, Life, Freedom) across the country. The women-led uprisings that spread from Rojhilat to the whole of Iran have created an irreversible revolution in people's minds, resulting in the deaths of at least 500 people and injuries to thousands more, while over 20,000 people were unlawfully detained, including dozens of lawyers.

Despite the family’s complaint against those responsible for Amini’s death, no action has been taken so far. Following biased trials, the judiciary has handed down stiff sentences, including the death penalty, to protesters. The Islamic Republic authorities have so far executed at least eight young protesters. 

Following the Iranian regime’s brutal crackdown on the protests, the European Parliament has repeatedly condemned the dire human rights situation in the country.

In October 2022, MEPs called for sanctions against Iranian officials involved in both Jina Mahsa Amini’s death and the regime’s repression, and expressed their strong support for the peaceful protest movement in Iran.

In January 2023, MEPs demanded more sanctions against the Iranian regime and for the EU to place the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps on its terrorist list.