Jasmin Tabatabai: They are Symbol of Courage and Resilience in the World

12 September 2023. On Thursday, the M100 Media Award will be presented to the #WomenLifeFreedom movement of Iran. The Iranian women’s rights activist Shima Babaei will receive the award on behalf of the movement. EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen will deliver the laudatory speech.

“With the M100 Media Award to the #WomenLifeFreedom Movement of Iran we celebrate the Iranian people, who’s women have rightfully become the symbol of courage and resilience in the world during the last year,” says German-Iranian actress and musician Jasmin Tabatabai. “Let’s honour their fight for freedom and self-determination against a brutal, medieval regime. Let’s show them, that although our politics keep failing them, we will continue our support, no matter how long it takes. We love you and we are proud of you – Zan Zendegi Azadî! !”

Jasmin Tabatabai will join human rights activist and journalist Düzen Tekkal and Iranian women’s rights activist and sports influencer Mersedeh Shahinkar to make a political statement at the award ceremony on 14 September. Mersedeh Shahinkar had her eye shot out by an Iranian policeman with a paintball last year; she has only been in Germany for two weeks.

The M100 Media Award ceremony will be streamed live on 14 September from 18:00 (CET).

I am very moved, especially because I was not expecting to hear these words, which are like an embrace for me. So I want to thank you for this award, for the incredibly moving words of Giovanni di Lorenzo, for this wonderful sky that has welcomed me to Potsdam, and also to thank the Federal Chancellor for her touching words, and for her encouraging presence. Because the awareness raised heartens me a lot more than words. Roberto Saviano, M100 Media Award laureate 2016
It is a great honour for me to be here and receive this great price. It's a very big day for me. I thank Federal Chancellor Angela Merkel and Dr. Joachim Gauck for the kind and strong words, and for their appreciation. Thank you, I will never forget this day! Kurt Westergaard, danish cartoonist, M100 Media Award laureate 2010
At the same time, today’s prize is an appeal to all persons who hold positions of responsibility in governments, in culture and in the media: be steadfast, value-oriented and also COURAGEOUS when irresponsible persons and powers undermine or relativise our values of freedom. It is a virtue to yield to a convincing argument, but it is cowardice to yield to a threat from enemies of freedom. Joachim Gauck in his laudation to Kurt Westergaard, 2010
I receive [this award] with an immense joy, happiness and humility also, because I think by being with you today here, I am receiving this price in the name of those who are still suffering in the jungle of Colombia and of those in the world that are living in similar conditions and who cannot speak for themselves freely. Ingrid Betancourt, M100 Media Award laureate 2008
But I have to say that in our modern society the media has a very, very particular responsibility, also for the European idea. And I hope that the event today – and the events which will follow – will help us to communicate better, to explain better and to convince people that Europe – and acknowledging all the problems, the mistakes and the deficits – […] that at the end of the day the idea of European integration is the best idea that we have ever developed in our history. Günther Verheugen, former EU-Commissioner, in his keynote speech 2005

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