Born in 1963, Sotoudeh has dedicated her career to representing those targeted by the Iranian state, with a specific focus on women's rights. Her commitment has come at a steep personal cost: in 2019, she received a sentence of 38 years in prison and 148 lashes. Following a medical furlough granted in 2023, she has faced further re-arrests and remains under restrictive bail conditions in Tehran.
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Nasrin Sotoudeh Honored With 2026 Thulani Maseko Justice Prize
A relentless defender of fundamental rights in Iran, Nasrin Sotoudeh has been named the 2026 recipient of the Thulani Maseko Justice Prize. The award, presented in The Hague, recognizes her decades of legal advocacy despite enduring repeated arrests, severe prison sentences, and physical retaliation from authorities in Tehran.
Roberto González, Chief Advocacy Officer for the Human Rights Foundation, highlighted the gravity of her sacrifice, noting that the physical punishment she endured serves as a brutal warning to dissenters. Despite these efforts to silence her, Sotoudeh continues to be recognized as a pivotal figure in the fight against authoritarianism. The prize, now in its fourth year, honors the legacy of Thulani Maseko, an Eswatini human rights lawyer assassinated in 2023. Organizers remain hopeful that Sotoudeh will participate in the ceremony, even as her legal status in Iran remains precarious.
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