FILE PHOTO: A woman holds a placard with a picture of Iranian woman Mahsa Amini during a protest against her death, in Berlin, Germany, Wednesday, September 28, 2022. Mahsa Amini, the 22-year-old Kurdish-Iranian woman who died in police custody in Iran last year, sparking worldwide protests against the country鈥檚 conservative Islamic theocracy, was awarded the European Union鈥檚 top human rights prize on Thursday, October 19, 2023. (AP Photo/Markus Schreiber, File)
STRASBOURG, France 鈥� Mahsa Amini, the 22-year-old Kurdish-Iranian woman who died in police custody in Iran in 2022, sparking worldwide protests against the country鈥檚 conservative Islamic theocracy, was awarded the European Union鈥檚 top human rights prize on Thursday.
The EU award, named for Soviet dissident Andrei Sakharov, was created in 1988 to honor individuals or groups who defend human rights and fundamental freedoms. Sakharov, a Nobel Peace Prize laureate, died in 1989.
Other finalists this year included Vilma N煤帽ez de Escorcia and Roman Catholic Bishop Rolando 脕lvarez 鈥� two emblematic figures in the fight for the defense of human rights in Nicaragua 鈥� and a trio of women from Poland, El Salvador, and the United States leading a fight for 鈥渇ree, safe, and legal abortion.鈥�
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Amini died on September 16, 2022, after she was arrested for allegedly violating Iran鈥檚 mandatory headscarf law. European Parliament President Roberta Metsola said that day will 鈥渓ive in infamy,鈥� adding that her 鈥漛rutal murder鈥� marked a turning point.
鈥淚t has triggered a women-led movement that is making history,鈥� she said as she announced the awarding of the prize to Amini and the Woman, Life, Freedom movement in Iran.
鈥淭he world has heard the chants of 鈥榃omen, Life, Liberty.鈥� Three words that have become a rallying cry for all those standing up for equality, for dignity and for freedom in Iran,鈥� Metsola said.
READ: Mahsa Amini鈥檚 death is a 鈥榯ipping point鈥�, says US-based Iranian journalist
Women have played a leading role in the protests, with many publicly removing the compulsory Islamic headscarf, known as the hijab.
The 27-nation EU has imposed sanctions on Iranian officials and organizations 鈥� including ministers, military officers and Iran鈥檚 morality police 鈥� for human rights abuses over the protests.
鈥淲e stand with those who, even from prison, continue to keep women, life and freedom alive,鈥� Metsola said. 鈥淏y choosing them as laureates for the Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought 2023, this House remembers their struggle and continues to honor all those who have paid the ultimate price for liberty.屎
READ: Iran鈥檚 security forces out in force a year after Mahsa Amini鈥檚 death
Amini died three days after she was arrested by Iran鈥檚 morality police. While authorities said she suffered a heart attack, Amini鈥檚 supporters said she was beaten by police and died as a result of her injuries.
Her death triggered protests that spread across the country and rapidly escalated into calls for the overthrow of Iran鈥檚 four-decade-old Islamic theocracy.
Authorities responded with a violent crackdown in which more than 500 people were killed and over 22,000 others were detained, according to rights groups. The demonstrations largely died down early this year, but there are still widespread signs of discontent. For several months, women could be seen openly flouting the headscarf rule in Tehran and other cities, prompting a renewed crackdown over the summer.
READ: Many Iranian women demand political change amid decades-long grievances
The award ceremony will take place on December 13.
Last year鈥檚 prize was awarded to the people of Ukraine and their representatives for their resistance to Russia鈥檚 invasion and defiance during the ongoing war.