NEWS CENTER– The "Scott Crosby Human Rights Prize" is awarded by the European Criminal Bar Association to individuals distinguished by their exceptional commitment to defending the rule of law and the independence of the legal profession.

Iranian lawyer and human rights defender Nasrin Sotoudeh received the Scott Crosby Human Rights Prize for 2026, in recognition of her career extending for more than two decades in defending fundamental rights, women's rights, and the independence of the legal profession.

The honor came during the autumn conference of the European Criminal Bar Association in the Albanian capital, Tirana, where her daughter, Nima Khandan, received the award on her behalf. The European Criminal Bar Association announced that the prize was granted to Nasrin Sotoudeh in recognition of her efforts over more than two decades of work in defending fundamental rights, women's rights, the independence of the legal profession, the right to defense, and fair trial.

During her professional career, Nasrin Sotoudeh represented a number of political activists, journalists, women opposing compulsory hijab, and members of ethnic and religious minorities, as well as a number of those sentenced to death. She has also faced arrest, imprisonment, and judicial and professional restrictions in recent years due to her human rights activity.

This prize, named after Scott Crosby, the Scottish lawyer and human rights defender who died in 2020, is awarded by the European Criminal Bar Association to persons who have shown outstanding commitment and dedication in defending human rights, the independence of the legal profession, and the rule of law.

The ceremony witnessed the attendance of Margaret Satterthwaite, the United Nations Special Rapporteur on the independence of judges and lawyers, who stressed the importance of supporting independent lawyers and human rights defenders.

The European Criminal Bar Association had previously announced that the award ceremony would be held on the third of October within the activities of its autumn conference in Tirana. In its presentation of Nasrin Sotoudeh, the Association referred to her long record in defending the right to a fair trial and the independence of the legal profession, as well as the judicial pressures she and her family members were subjected to.