Mahsa Amini posthumously awarded EU's Sakharov Prize for death in custody sparking Iran protests

Jina Mahsa Amini, a 22-year-old Kurdish Iranian woman, died in custody after being arrested for violating Iran's mandatory headscarf law.
Amini's death ignited anti-government protests in Iran criticizing the country's conservative Islamic policies and human rights abuses.
The Sakharov Prize was awarded to Amini by the European Parliament for defending human rights and freedoms.
Women have played a leading role in the protests in Iran, publicly removing their headscarves and demanding equal rights.
The award comes amid EU sanctions on Iran for violent crackdowns on protesters following Amini's death.