Nasrin Sotoudeh wins 2026 Václav Havel Human Rights Prize

Yesterday 21:00

Iranian human rights lawyer Nasrin Sotoudeh has been awarded the 2026 Václav Havel Human Rights Prize, placing her long-standing legal and civic activism at the center of the Council of Europe’s annual recognition of human rights defenders.

The award was presented on Monday, September 28, during the opening of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe’s autumn session in Strasbourg. The prize, now in its 14th edition, recognizes exceptional civil society action in defence of human rights in Europe and beyond.

A career shaped by human rights advocacy

Sotoudeh has spent years defending people facing serious legal and political pressure in Iran. Her work has included representing activists, journalists, members of minority communities and children at risk of execution.

Alongside her legal practice, she has publicly opposed the death penalty and legislation enforcing compulsory hijab rules for women. The Council of Europe highlighted the personal risks she has faced, including repeated arrests and periods of imprisonment.

Her latest recognition comes after another arrest in April 2026. She was released on bail in May, while concerns over her safety and the broader situation facing independent lawyers and human rights defenders in Iran remain.

Award accepted by her daughter in Strasbourg

Sotoudeh did not attend the Strasbourg ceremony in person. Her daughter, Mehraveh Khandan Heris, accepted the award on her behalf.

In a video message recorded in Tehran, Sotoudeh reflected on the struggles faced by those defending fundamental freedoms and expressed hope for a future in which freedom and truth could prevail in Iran.

The prize carries a financial award of €60,000, along with a trophy and a diploma. It is presented by the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe in partnership with the Charta 77 Foundation.

Recognition amid continued pressure on Iranian rights defenders

The award comes against a backdrop of sustained concern over the treatment of lawyers, journalists, activists and other civil society figures in Iran.

The Council of Europe has specifically pointed to the risks faced by independent lawyers and human rights defenders, placing Sotoudeh’s latest recognition within a wider discussion about the protection of fundamental freedoms.

Sotoudeh is also a previous recipient of the European Parliament’s Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought, awarded to her in 2012.

First Iranian recipient of the Václav Havel Prize

The 2026 award makes Sotoudeh the first Iranian recipient of the Václav Havel Human Rights Prize. She was selected from a shortlist that also included Iranian-American journalist and women’s rights activist Masih Alinejad and Hungarian human rights lawyer Márta Pardavi.

Created in honour of Václav Havel, the Czech dissident, writer and former president, the prize seeks to recognize individuals or organizations whose work demonstrates a significant commitment to human rights and civil society. The 2026 ceremony took place in Strasbourg as part of the Council of Europe parliamentary session running from September 28 to October 2.