Iranian Human Rights Lawyer Nasrin Sotoudeh Awarded Thulani Maseko Justice Prize

Iranian human rights lawyer Nasrin Sotoudeh has been selected as the recipient of the 2026 Thulani Maseko Prize for Justice. The award ceremony, held in The Hague, Netherlands, by human rights organizations, honors Sotoudeh's dedicated work in defending fundamental rights within authoritarian states.

Sotoudeh, born in Tehran in 1963, has focused her career on representing victims of human rights violations, particularly women. She has faced multiple arrests and spent several years in prison, including a 2019 sentence of 38 years and 148 lashes, which drew significant international attention.

The prize, established by the Human Rights Foundation (HRF) and the Thulani Maseko Foundation, aims to acknowledge lawyers who risk their lives and liberty to promote the rule of law and democracy in countries governed by authoritarian regimes. It is named in honor of Thulani Maseko, an Eswatini-based human rights lawyer assassinated in 2023.

Roberto González, advocacy lead at HRF, highlighted Sotoudeh's unwavering commitment to justice despite the extreme challenges she faces. Organizers expressed hope for Sotoudeh's participation in the ceremony, noting her current status in Iran remains uncertain following her release on medical grounds and subsequent re-arrests.