International Human Rights Day: Iranian Gov’t Denies Mahsa Amini’s Family Right To Accept Award on Her Behalf

In Oslo, approximately 2,500 miles (about 4,000 km) from Tehran, Kiana and Ali Mohammadi accepted the Nobel Peace Prize on Sunday on behalf of their mother, anti-regime political activist Narges Mohammadi.

Meanwhile, in Tehran over the weekend, the Iranian government prevented Mahsa Amini’s family from flying to France to collect a human rights award in her name.

Amini, also known by her Kurdish name Jira, was a 22-year-old Kurdish woman who died in the custody of Iran’s Morality Police last year. Her arrest was based on violating Iran’s Islamic dress code by failing to wear a hijab properly.

Public outrage over Amini’s death swept across Iran, with protesters rallying behind the mantra of “Women, Life, Freedom” in opposition to the government’s draconian morality and dress code laws. Countrywide anti-regime demonstrations ensued, and months of widespread protests brought the Islamic Republic to the brink. The unrest resulted in the deaths of 522 civilians and further crackdowns on freedom of speech, press, and expression.

Mahsa Amini’s father, mother, and brother had planned to travel to Strasbourg, France, on Saturday to receive the Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought in her name. However, the family was blocked from boarding their flight at Tehran’s Imam Khomeini airport before being stripped of their passports and informed that they were no longer permitted to leave the country.

Amjad, Mahsa’s father, told London-based Iran International that despite informing the government about the trip a month in advance, the family was blindsided by the news of the travel ban after arriving at the airport. He also noted that they were not given a reason for the ban in the first place.

Saleh Nikbakht, the Amini family’s lawyer, was eventually permitted to travel to the ceremony in France to collect the award.