Nasrin Sotoudeh wins Swedish PEN Award
Nasrin Sotoudeh, a lawyer and human rights activist who is currently imprisoned in the women's ward of Evin Prison, has won the 2018 Swedish PEN Prize.
This award was presented to Ms. Sotoudeh for her struggle to defend writers, reporters, and social activists in Iran.
The jury of the Kurt Tuchulsky Prize, known as the Swedish PEN Society's special prize, said that Nasrin Sotoudeh continues her fight to defend writers, journalists, and women social activists in Iran with a sense of justice.
Nobel Peace Prize winner Shirin Ebadi is scheduled to receive the Swedish PEN Award this month on behalf of imprisoned Nasrin Sotoudeh.
Ms. Sotoudeh, who had represented many civil society activists and political critics, including those protesting the mandatory hijab, was arrested in June of this year. She faced various charges in several cases, but in the case involving propaganda against the regime, she was sentenced to five years in prison on charges of espionage.
Another case against Ms. Sotoudeh is a complaint filed by an investigator at the Kashan Prosecutor's Office due to her representation in the case of girls protesting against compulsory hijab.
The arrest of this lawyer and human rights activist prompted protests from the United States government and international human rights organizations, including Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch.
Source: Voice of America
