Nasrin Sotoudeh

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.

Iranian human rights lawyer Nasrin Sotoudeh has been awarded the Václav Havel Human Rights Prize, honouring her decades of work defending women, political prisoners and dissidents in Iran. Sotoudeh, who has spent years in prison for her advocacy, is among the most prominent rights defenders in the country, and the award is seen as international recognition of her perseverance despite continued pressure from Iranian authorities.

Iranian human rights lawyer Nasrin Sotoudeh has been awarded the 2026 Vaclav Havel Human Rights Prize. Sotoudeh, known for defending women's rights activists and opponents of Iran's compulsory hijab laws, has faced repeated arrest and imprisonment in Iran. The prize, awarded by the Council of Europe-associated bodies in memory of the Czech dissident playwright, honours defenders of human rights and democracy.

Iranian human rights lawyer Nasrin Sotoudeh has been awarded the 2026 Vaclav Havel Human Rights Prize. Sotoudeh is known for defending women's rights activists and opposition figures in Iran and has faced repeated imprisonment for her work. The prize, named after the late Czech dissident president, honours individuals and organisations defending human rights in Europe and beyond, and the announcement is drawing attention to her long-standing legal defence of activists.