# International recognition of Nasrin Sotoudeh > Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/international-recognition-of-nasrin-sotoudeh > Updated: 2026-09-28T12:02:00.000Z. Sources: 13. Developments: 2. Iranian human rights lawyer Nasrin Sotoudeh has received international recognition for her advocacy regarding equality, dignity, and the defense of political prisoners and minorities. In early September 2026, Sotoudeh was named a finalist for the Wasslos Havel Human Rights Prize alongside Iranian-American activist Masih Alinejad and Hungarian human rights lawyer Marta Pardavi. By late September, she was awarded the Vaclav Havel Prize by the Council of Europe. The award, which includes a 60,000 euro grant, was accepted in Strasbourg by her daughter, Mehraveh Khandan Heris, via a video message sent by Sotoudeh from Tehran. In her message, Sotoudeh stated, ‘one day, the sun of freedom will shine upon our country as well.’ The Council of Europe highlighted her work defending activists and journalists despite her own history of arrests and imprisonment, noting that she has represented individuals threatened with execution while facing significant personal risks. Her advocacy includes campaigns against the death penalty and compulsory hijab laws in Iran. Sotoudeh’s previous honors include the 2012 Sakharov Prize from the European Parliament and the 2020 Right Livelihood Award. Following a recent arrest in April 2026, she was released on bail approximately six weeks later, though she remains under significant personal risk due to her legal and political activism. ## Timeline ### 2026-09-28: Nasrin Sotoudeh wins Council of Europe Vaclav Havel Human Rights Prize Iranian lawyer Nasrin Sotoudeh has won the Council of Europe’s Vaclav Havel Human Rights Prize for her advocacy against the death penalty and compulsory hijab laws. 11 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/nasrin-sotoudeh-awarded-council-of-europe-vaclav-havel-prize ### 2026-09-02: Nasrin Sotoudeh named finalist for Wasslos Havel Human Rights Prize Iranian lawyer Nasrin Sotoudeh has been named a finalist for the 2026 Wasslos Havel Human Rights Prize, recognizing her extensive advocacy for human rights and equality. 2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/nasrin-sotoudeh-named-finalist-for-wasslos-havel-human-rights-prize --- Cite as: International recognition of Nasrin Sotoudeh. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/international-recognition-of-nasrin-sotoudeh