Václav Havel Prize

Iranian human rights lawyer Nasrin Sotoudeh has been awarded the Václav Havel Human Rights Prize. Sotoudeh, known for defending women's rights activists and opponents of Iran's mandatory hijab laws, has spent years in prison herself for her work. The award, given annually by the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe, honours outstanding commitment to human rights and is likely to draw renewed attention to her case and Iran's treatment of dissident lawyers.

Iranian human-rights lawyer Nasrin Sotoudeh has been awarded the 2026 Václav Havel Human Rights Prize, presented annually by the Council of Europe to honour outstanding civil-society defenders of human rights. Sotoudeh is known for representing women and political prisoners in Iran and has herself faced repeated imprisonment. The award is drawing attention to her work and to the continuing crackdown on rights defenders in Iran.