MEPs have awarded a top rights prize to Mahsa Amini, whose death in Iranian custody sparked mass protests, but her family will not attend after being blocked by Tehran.
The award - also for the broader "Woman, Life, Freedom" movement - is the latest international recognition for the women challenging Iran's religious government after jailed activist Narges Mohammadi was given the Nobel Peace Prize.
Ms Amini's mother, father and brother will miss the ceremony at the European Parliament in the French city of Strasbourg as Iran's authorities confiscated their passports and barred them from flying to collect the EU's Sakharov Prize.
An Iranian Kurd, Ms Amini died on 16 September, 2022 at the age of 22 while being held by Iran's religious police for allegedly breaching the Islamic republic's strict dress code for women.
Her death triggered major protests in Iran and a global movement known as "Woman, Life, Freedom", calling for the end of the Muslim cleric-led government in Tehran and its imposition of headscarves on women.
Iranian security forces have cracked down on the protests domestically, killing hundreds, and have executed dozens for allegedly participating in what officials have called "riots".
The refusal by Iran's government to let Ms Amini's family attend has caused outrage among EU politcians, who said Tehran is seeking to stifle her supporters.
"This restriction is aimed at silencing Jina Mahsa Amini's family, preventing them from speaking out about the Islamic Republic's outrageous repression of women's rights, human rights and fundamental freedoms in Iran," 116 MEPs wrote in a letter.
"We cannot tolerate this, the truth must not be silenced and the face of this incredible liberation movement should be shown to Europe and the world."
Ms Amini's family will instead be represented by their Iranian lawyer Saleh Nikbakht at the ceremony.
Mr Nikbakht said at a meeting with lawmakers yesterday that Ms Amini's family had informed the authorities they were planning to travel but were stopped at the last moment.
Two prominent activists living in exile outside Iran - Afsoon Najafi and Mersedeh Shahinkar - will also pick up the award in the name of the broader movement.
