Imprisoned lawyers Imaan Mazari, Hadi Chattha win global human rights award

Lawyers Imaan Zainab Mazari-Hazir and Hadi Ali Chattha, who are currently serving jail terms, have been honoured with the Ludovic Trarieux International Human Rights Prize for their work in human rights advocacy.

The announcement was made on Tuesday, with organisers describing the award as one of the world’s oldest and most prestigious honours for lawyers engaged in human rights work.

According to the official website, the prize was established in memory of French lawyer Ludovic Trarieux, who founded the League for the Defence of Human and Citizen Rights in 1898. The first recipient of the award was former South African president Nelson Mandela in 1985, while he was imprisoned under apartheid.

A statement issued by the Forensic Union for the Protection of Human Rights (UFDU) said the award is given annually to lawyers who make an outstanding contribution to the defence of human rights, the rule of law, and opposition to racism and intolerance.

The award ceremony was held in Rome at the National Bar Council’s Parlamentino Hall, in the presence of officials from the European and International Law Commission.

The statement highlighted that Hadi Chattha has represented individuals accused of blasphemy, victims of sexual violence, enforced disappearances and death row prisoners. It added that Imaan Mazari has worked on cases involving victims of violence and persecution and has provided legal support to vulnerable religious and ethnic communities.