Iranian human rights lawyer Nasrin Sotoudeh has been named the 2026 recipient of the Thulani Maseko Justice Prize, with organizers planning a ceremony in The Hague on Oct. 15, the Human Rights Foundation said.
HRF and the Thulani Maseko Foundation cited Sotoudeh’s work representing prisoners of conscience, including journalists, activists, children and minorities, as well as her opposition to Iran’s compulsory hijab law.
Her appearance at the ceremony was not confirmed. In an Oct. 15 release, organizers said her status was uncertain and they hoped she could attend. HRF’s Oct. 7 announcement said Sotoudeh was arrested in early April and released on bail in mid-May on medical leave; organizers said they believed she remained in Tehran under strict bail conditions.
The foundations created the prize to recognize human rights lawyers who work to uphold justice and legal standards where governments are authoritarian. It is named for Thulani Maseko, a Swazi human rights lawyer and democracy advocate whom HRF says was assassinated at his home on Jan. 21, 2023.
