Brussels, 19 October 2023 (dpa/MIA) - The European Parliament's Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought will be awarded to Iranian-Kurdish woman Mahsa Amini, who died in police custody, and the Iranian women protest movement this year, the EU parliament announced on Thursday.

"The European Parliament proudly stands with the brave and defiant who continue to fight for equality, dignity and freedom in Iran," EU Parliament President Roberta Metsola said in a statement.

"We stand with those who, even from prison, continue to keep 'Women, Life and Freedom' alive," she added, referring to a slogan of the protest movement.

Amini, who was 22 years old at the time, fell into a coma in September 2022 and subsequently died after being detained by Iran's morality police for allegedly violating the Islamic dress code.

Her death sparked the largest protests in the Islamic Republic in decades, which were violently suppressed by the regime in Tehran.

The European Union has repeatedly imposed sanctions on Iran over its violent handling of demonstrators and mass arrests of protesters.

The Sakharov Prize has been awarded by the European Parliament since 1988 to individuals or organizations that defend human rights and freedom of expression. Last year the prize was awarded to the Ukrainian people for their fight against the Russian invasion of their country.

This year's award ceremony is scheduled for December.