On Tuesday at 11.30, President Roberta Metsola will award the 2023 Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought  to Jina Mahsa Amini and the Woman, Life, Freedom Movement in Iran.

Jina Mahsa Amini was a 22-year-old Iranian Kurdish woman, who died in September 2022, following physical abuse at the hands of the Iranian security services, while in custody. Her death sparked massive women-led protests in Iran against the hijab law and other discriminatory laws.

Afsoon Najafi and Mersedeh Shahinkar, Iranian women's rights defenders, are expected to be present at the ceremony in Strasbourg.

Award of the Sakharov Prize 2023 to Jina Mahsa Amini and the Woman, Life, Freedom Movement in Iran

Sakharov Fellowship 2024

Sakharov Prize for freedom of thought 2023 - Social media live discussion

Civil society organisations meet with the European Parliament’s 2023 Sakharov Prize laureate and finalists - Discussion with the human rights activists

Civil society organisations meet with the European Parliament’s 2023 Sakharov Prize laureate and finalists - Discussion withfinalists -  Colleen McNicholas (US)

Civil society organisations meet with the European Parliament’s 2023 Sakharov Prize laureate and finalists - Discussion with finalists -  Monseñor Rolando Álvarez and Vilma Nuñez de Escorcia represented by Padre Uriel Vallejos and Sara Henríquez

EPAS Sakharov Seminar

First Vice-President Othmar Karas meets with the prize-winners and finalists of the Sakharov Prize ceremony.

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Civil society organisations meet with the European Parliament’s 2023 Sakharov Prize laureate and finalists - Discussion laureates’  ‘’Jina Mahsa Amini and the Woman, Life Freedom Movement in Iran’’  representatives and MEP Abir Al-Sahlani

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Press conference of the the laureates of the 2023 Sakharov Prize

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Media Seminar - European Parliament Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought - Meeting with finalists

AFET DEVE DROI joint meeting - Exchange of views with the 2023 Sakharov Prize laureates - Jina Mahsa Amini and the Woman, Life, Freedom movement, represented by Afsoon Najafi and Mersedeh Shahinkar

This infoclip is a part of the video series called "European Parliament’s priorities and achievements (2019-2024)", demonstrating Parliament's unwavering commitment to human rights and democracy around the globe. Since 1988, Parliament’s Sakharov Prize recognises individuals, groups and organisations that have made an outstanding contribution to protecting freedom of thought in the world. The info clip shows illustrative material related to the five Sakharov Laureates of the 9th legislative term, namely Uyghur economist Ilham Tohti fighting for the rights of China’s Uyghur minority, the democratic opposition in Belarus, Russian opposition leader, lawyer, anti-corruption activist and political prisoner Alexei Navalny, the brave people of Ukraine as well as Jina Mahsa Amini and the Woman, Life, Freedom Movement in Iran.

European Parliament’s priorities and achievements (2019-2024): Support to democracy and human rights activities

The Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought is the highest tribute paid by the European Union to human rights work. It gives recognition to individuals, groups and organisations that have made an outstanding contribution to protecting freedom of thought. Through the prize and its associated network the EU assists laureates, who are supported and empowered in their efforts to defend their causes. This year, the award goes to Jina Mahsa Amini and the Woman, Life, Freedom Movement in Iran. This news item shows extracts from the statement by the laurate during the Sakharov Prize 2023 ceremony.

Award of the 2023 Sakharov Prize: statements by Afsoon Najafi and Mersedeh Shahinkar representing Woman, Life, Freedom Movement, Sakharov Prize 2023 laureates

The Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought is the highest tribute paid by the European Union to human rights work. It gives recognition to individuals, groups and organisations that have made an outstanding contribution to protecting freedom of thought. Through the prize and its associated network the EU assists laureates, who are supported and empowered in their efforts to defend their causes. This year, the award goes to Jina Mahsa Amini and the Woman, Life, Freedom Movement in Iran. This news item shows extracts from the welcome by Roberta METSOLA, President of the European Parliament, ot the Laureates and extracts from the meeting with Mrs Afsoon Najafi, Iranian women’s rights defender, Mrs Mersedeh Shahinkar, Iranian women’s rights defender, Mr Saleh Nikbakht, academic, lawyer representing Jina Mahsa Amini’s family.

Award of the 2023 Sakharov Prize: Roberta METSOLA, EP President meets with the Laureates, welcome and roundtable

The Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought is the highest tribute paid by the European Union to human rights work. It gives recognition to individuals, groups and organisations that have made an outstanding contribution to protecting freedom of thought. Through the prize and its associated network the EU assists laureates, who are supported and empowered in their efforts to defend their causes. This year, the award goes to Jina Mahsa Amini and the Woman, Life, Freedom Movement in Iran. Jina Mahsa Amini was a 22-year-old Iranian Kurdish woman, who died in September 2022, following physical abuse at the hands of the Iranian security services, while in custody. Her death sparked massive women-led protests in Iran against the hijab law and other discriminatory laws. This news item shows extracts from the ceremony of the 2023 Sakharov Prize during the plenary session in Strasbourg.

Award of the 2023 Sakharov Prize: extracts from the ceremony

The laureate of this year’s Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought, Saleh Nikbakht, the lawyer of the family of Jina Mahsa Amini, delivers a statement in the award ceremony in Strasbourg. This transcription is a result of an automatic process. Please check against delivery.

Award of the Sakharov Prize 2023: Statement by Saleh Nikbakht, the lawyer of the family of Jina Mahsa Amini

Roberta METSOLA, President of the European Parliament, holds a press conference on the Sakharov Prize 2023 before the ceremony. This year, the award goes to Jina Mahsa Amini and the Woman, Life, Freedom Movement in Iran. Jina Mahsa Amini was a 22-year-old Iranian Kurdish woman, who died in September 2022, following physical abuse at the hands of the Iranian security services, while in custody. Her death sparked massive women-led protests in Iran against the hijab law and other discriminatory laws. This transcription is a result of an automatic process. Please check against delivery. Afsoon Najafi and Mersedeh Shahinkar representing Jina Mahsa Amini and Woman, Life, Freedom Movement and Saleh Nikbakht, the lawyer of the family of Jina Mahsa Amini

Press conference by Roberta METSOLA, EP President and Afsoon Najafi and Mersedeh Shahinkar representing Jina Mahsa Amini and Woman, Life, Freedom Movement and Saleh Nikbakht, the lawyer of the family of Jina Mahsa Amini on the Sakharov Prize 2023

The Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought is the highest tribute paid by the European Union to human rights work. It gives recognition to individuals, groups and organisations that have made an outstanding contribution to protecting freedom of thought. Through the prize and its associated network the EU assists laureates, who are supported and empowered in their efforts to defend their causes. This year, the award goes to Jina Mahsa Amini and the Woman, Life, Freedom Movement in Iran. Opening statement by Roberta METSOLA, EP President. This transcription is a result of an automatic process. Please check against delivery.

Award of the 2023 Sakharov Prize: Statement by Roberta METSOLA, EP President

Clip: Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought (1988 - 2023)

"Jina Mahsa Amini and the Woman, Life, Freedom Movement in Iran" is awarded as the 2023 Sakharov Prize laureate. "The Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought is awarded each year by the European Parliament. It was set up in 1988 to honour individuals and organisations defending human rights and fundamental freedoms. The European Parliament’s Conference of Presidents (President Metsola and political groups’ leaders) select the winning laureate. This news item shows footage from the roundtable at the COP and from the announcement of the laureate by Roberta METSOLA, President of the European Parliament.

Sakharov Prize 2023 laureate: roundtable at the COP and extracts from the announcement of "Jina Mahsa Amini and the Woman, Life, Freedom Movement in Iran" as the laureate, by Roberta METSOLA, EP President

Roberta METSOLA, EP President, announces in front of the hemicycle in Strasbourg the Sakharov Prize 2023 laureate: "Jina Mahsa Amini and the Woman, Life, Freedom Movement in Iran". The Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought is awarded each year by the European Parliament. It was set up in 1988 to honour individuals and organisations defending human rights and fundamental freedoms. It is named in honour of Soviet physicist and political dissident Andrei Sakharov. This transcription is a result of an automatic process. Please check against delivery.

Announcement of the Sakharov Prize 2023 laureate "Jina Mahsa Amini and the Woman, Life, Freedom Movement in Iran" by Roberta METSOLA, EP President

Each year Parliament awards the Sakharov Prize to honour exceptional individuals and organisations defending human rights and fundamental freedoms. The winner of this year’s Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought is Jina Mahsa Amini and the Woman, Life, Freedom Movement in Iran. The 22-year-old Kurdish woman was visiting Tehran in September 2022, when she was arrested and beaten by the so-called moral police for wearing the hijab the “wrong” way. Her death a few days later sparked massive protests in Iran, with women at the forefront. Under the slogan “Woman, Life, Freedom”, they have been protesting against the hijab law and other discriminatory laws. This infoclip shows footage of Iranian protests, riots and current images of Iranian people's life in Teheran. This infoclip shows street views, traffic and daily life in Tehran, Iran. The footage was shot in autumn 2023.

Infoclip: Tehran (Iran) - Sakharov Prize 2023

In a joint secret vote in the Foreign Affairs and Development committees and the Human Rights Subcommittee, MEPs will choose the three finalists for this year’s Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought. David McALLISTER (EPP, DE), AFET Chair, Tomas TOBÉ (EPP, SE), DEVE Chair and Udo BULLMAN (S&D, DE), DROI Chair annouce officially the three finalists: Jina Mahsa Amini and the Woman, Life, Freedom Movement in Iran, Vilma Núñez de Escorcia and Monsignor Rolando José Álvarez Lagos from Nicaragua, Women fighting for a free, safe and legal abortion: Justyna Wydrzyńska - Poland, Morena Herrera - El Salvador, and Colleen McNicholas - United States. The winner will be chosen by Parliament’s Conference of Presidents on 19 October.

Announcement of the 3 finalists for Sakharov Prize 2023: statements by David McALLISTER (EPP, DE), AFET Chair, Tomas TOBÉ (EPP, SE), DEVE Chair and Udo BULLMAN (S&D, DE), DROI Chair

EP awards the Sakharov Prize to honour exceptional individuals and organisations defending human rights and fundamental freedoms. Vilma Núñez de Escorcia has been fighting for the human rights of Nicaraguans for decades. Despite persecution, she remains in her country. Álvarez, Bishop of Matagalpa, has been one of the most outspoken critics of President Daniel Ortega’s regime. In February 2023, after refusing to leave the country, he was sentenced to 26 years in prison and his nationality was suspended. The footage (or part) are Confidencial and ©AFP. The footage are ©AFP. The material is offered for the purpose of providing information and/or education on Sakharov Prize 2023 until 11/10/2024. The assignment to a third part is not allowed. For any other uses contact AFP – www.afp.com.

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