Iranian-American journalist and activist Masih Alinejad will receive the inaugural European Paulskirche Prize for Democracy in Frankfurt today. Alinejad has campaigned for human and women's rights in Iran for years and has lived in exile since 2009. In an interview, she emphasized her love for democracy.
Frankfurt am Main – Iranian-American journalist, author, and women's rights activist Masih Alinejad will accept the first European Paulskirche Prize for Democracy on Tuesday, March 31, 2026.
Alinejad has advocated for human rights and women's rights in Iran for years. In May 2014, she posted a photo of herself without a headscarf, sparking protests and an online movement. She launched the "My Stealthy Freedom" campaign, encouraging women to appear online without headscarves despite it being a criminal offense in Iran.
Living in exile since 2009, Alinejad is regarded as one of the key voices in the Iranian freedom movement. In an interview with German broadcaster Tagesschau, she stated: "It is better to live with dignity and to have a mission." She added: "I love democracy."
The prize honors Frankfurt's Paulskirche, known as the cradle of German democracy, where the first elected German parliament met in 1848.
