The European Parliament has awarded the Sakharov Prize, a top EU rights prize, to Mahsa Amini, a young Iranian Kurd who died in custody, sparking widespread protests. However, Amini's family was blocked by the Iranian government from attending the ceremony in Strasbourg. Amini's mother, father, and brother were unable to travel after their passports were confiscated. In a speech read by the family's lawyer, Amini's mother, Mojgan Eftekhari, expressed their disappointment and stated that her daughter's name had become a symbol of freedom.

Amini's death, which occurred while she was being held for allegedly breaching Iran's strict dress code for women, led to major protests in Iran and the formation of the Woman, Life, Freedom movement. Suppressing the protests, Iranian security forces killed hundreds of people and executed dozens for alleged participation in riots. The EU lawmakers strongly condemned Iran's refusal to allow Amini's family to attend the ceremony and stated that Tehran is trying to silence her supporters. The European Parliament president, Roberta Metsola, emphasized the courage of Iranian women in their fight for justice and human rights and declared that their voices will not be silenced.

The EU has imposed sanctions on numerous Iranian officials due to the repression of demonstrators. Activists Afsoon Najafi and Mersedeh Shahinkar, who live in exile outside of Iran, accepted the award on behalf of the broader movement. Speaking at a press conference, Shahinkar expressed her frustration with the regime in Iran and called on the international community to condemn their treatment of protesters. She urged politicians to withdraw their support and no longer shake hands with Iranian officials.