Sakharov Prize Awarded to Jina Amini: Mozhgan Eftkhari's Message at the European Parliament
The prestigious Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought was presented to Jina Amini and t
Hengaw: Tuesday, December 12, 2023
The prestigious Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought was presented to Jina Amini and the Jin, Jiyan, Azadi movement in a ceremony held at the European Parliament headquarters in Strasbourg on Tuesday, December 12, 2023. Saleh Nikbakht, the Amini family's lawyer, and Afsun Najafi, sister of Hadith Najafi, and Merseda Shahinkar, a victim of the movement, were also honored during the event.
Despite the European Parliament's invitation to Jina Amini's family to attend the ceremony, Iranian officials obstructed their travel to France on December 8 at Imam Khomeini Airport in Tehran.
The Sakharov Prize, named after former Soviet dissident Andrei Sakharov, stands as the EU's highest honor for human rights activism and defenders of fundamental freedoms, particularly freedom of thought. Established in 1988, previous recipients include Nelson Mandela, Annanvili Marchino, and the "Courageous People of Ukraine" in the preceding year.
During today's ceremony, Saleh Nikbakht, representing Jina Amini's family, read a message from Mozhgan Eftkhari, which follows:
"Ladies and Gentlemen,
Regrettably, I am unable to be present in person to express my sincere gratitude to the esteemed donors of the Sakharov Prize, a symbol of freedom awarded by the European Parliament. This denial, contrary to legal and humanitarian standards, necessitates the representation of our defense lawyer, Mr. Saleh Nikbakht, and Dr. Soheila Qadri, conveying my message on our behalf.
Today, we gather to honor Jina in Jean-Darque's hometown of France—a beautiful and significant occasion as these women come together, inspiring history for generations to come. They, who transcended borders with their sacrifice, reignited the flame of liberation and freedom.
Jina epitomizes 'women and life.' Her name, a clandestine key to liberation, carried the dream of freedom from her Kurdistan hometown to resonate across Iran, the Middle East, and beyond, mobilizing millions in the pursuit of soaring towards the boundless horizon of salvation. Though they unjustly claimed her life, they erroneously believed extinguishing her body would silence her dreams, akin to the delusion of Jean-Darque's oppressors. Unbeknownst to them, from the ashes of Jean-Darque and Jina emerged a phoenix-like spirit—unconquerable and inspiring. These spirits of the times now converge, centuries later, to bring the uplifting news of eternal salvation to us in this age, promising the realization of high human values encapsulated in the progressive slogan 'Jin, Jiyan, Azadi'—Women, Life, Freedom. These values, boundless and timeless, encompass justice, freedom, peace, coexistence, and equality for all human beings.
Ladies and Gentlemen, Jina is eternal for me and for people worldwide. I am confident that her name will stand as a symbol of freedom alongside Jean-Darque. From Jina's birthplace in Saqqez, Kurdistan, I express my family's boundless gratitude to you. May you find joy in this commendable choice, and I hope no voice in the world is afraid to utter the word freedom.
Mozhgan Eftkhari,
Mother of Jina Amini
From the city of Saqqez, Kurdistan, Iran"
