Iran stops Mahsa Amini's family travelling to France for EU rights award

Iranian authorities banned members of the late Mahsa Amini's family from traveling to receive the European Union’s top human rights prize on her behalf. Amini's death while in police custody in 2022 sparked nationwide protests that rocked the Islamic Republic.

Iranian women shout slogans during a demonstration outside the Iranian consulate in Istanbul, Saturday, Oct. 22, 2022. Demonstrators protested against the death of Mahsa Amini, a 22-year-old woman who had been detained by Iran's morality police in the capital of Tehran for allegedly not adhering to Iran's strict Islamic dress code. AP - Emrah Gurel

The US-based civil rights monitor HRANA reported at the weekend that the authorities have refused to allow Amini's father, Amjad, and two of her brothers to fly out to Strasbourg, France, to receive the Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought. 

Reports said only the family's lawyer, Saleh Nikbakht, would be able to travel to receive the award on their behalf. 

The EU award – named after Soviet dissident and Nobel Peace Prize laureate Andrei Sakharov – was created in 1988 to honor individuals or groups who defend human rights and fundamental freedoms.

It is “the highest tribute paid by the European Union to human rights work,” as per the EU Parliament website.

Mahsa Amini was granted the prize posthumously in September.

They were on their way to France to receive the 2023 Sakharov Prize .@Europarl_EN when they were denied leaving Iran & their passports confiscated.

Mahsa Amini’s father, mother & brother will not be there to accept the prize. #مهسا_امينی #زن_زندگى_آزادى

source @FSeifikaran pic.twitter.com/Cjaigb5W85

— Samira Mohyeddin سمیرا (@SMohyeddin) December 8, 2023

Amini's death sparks mass protests

The 22-year-old Kurdish-Iranian woman died after Iran's morality police arrested her for allegedly violating the country’s strict headscarf law that forces women to cover their hair and entire body.

Her death led to massive protests that quickly escalated into calls to overthrow Iran’s clerical rulers. 

Iranian women, furious over Amini's death, played a pivotal role in the protests, with some opting to go without their mandatory headscarves. 

• Amnesty International condemns Iran's ruthless repression of street protests

Authorities immediately launched a heavy crackdown, in which over 500 people were killed and nearly 20,000 arrested, according to human rights activists in Iran.

Authorities have said many of those detained were released or given reduced sentences.

The protests largely died down earlier this year.

A total of eight people were executed in Iran in connection with the protests, after being charged with attacking security forces.

Human rights activists have accused the Iranian authorities of convicting them in secret proceedings after they were denied the right to defend themselves.

Iran has denied the charges.