Born in Tehran in 1963, Sotoudeh has dedicated her professional life to representing those targeted by authoritarian policies, with a specific focus on women’s rights. Her work has consistently placed her at odds with Iranian authorities, resulting in multiple arrests and a harrowing 2019 sentence of 38 years in prison and 148 lashes. While she secured a medical furlough in 2023, her current status remains precarious; she faces ongoing re-arrests and resides in Tehran under restrictive bail conditions.
Nasrin Sotoudeh Honored with 2026 Thulani Maseko Justice Prize
In The Hague today, the international community honors Iranian attorney Nasrin Sotoudeh with the 2026 Thulani Maseko Justice Prize. The award recognizes her decades of legal advocacy for fundamental rights in Iran, a career marked by repeated imprisonment and severe state-sanctioned retaliation against her persistent defense of persecuted individuals.
Roberto González, Chief Advocacy Officer for the Human Rights Foundation, noted the extreme physical and professional toll of her activism. He described the sentence of 148 lashes as a brutal attempt to silence her, yet emphasized that Sotoudeh remains undaunted in her commitment to the rule of law. The prize, now in its fourth year, commemorates the life of Thulani Maseko, the Eswatini human rights lawyer who was assassinated in 2023. Organizers are currently working to determine if Sotoudeh can participate in the ceremony, acknowledging the high stakes of her continued presence in Iran.
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