Sotoudeh, 62, is recognized for her advocacy against the death penalty and for human rights in Iran. She has defended numerous political prisoners and women opposing strict hijab laws. Awarded the Sakharov Prize by the European Parliament in 2012 and the Alternative Nobel Prize in 2020, Sotoudeh has faced multiple arrests, with her most recent detention occurring in the fall of 2023. Her laptop and mobile phone were confiscated during the latest arrest.