Ban on Entry for Aachen Peace Prize Laureate from Iran
The Amirkabir Newsletter from Iran, this year's recipient of the Aachen Peace Prize, will not be able to attend the ceremony due to visa denial. The editorial team is expected to be represented by a student living in Germany.
The Aachen Peace Prize, an award that honours individuals and groups working at the grassroots level for peace and understanding, has been presented in Aachen, Germany since 1988. It is not limited to a specific individual or group and can be given with audio and video.
The recipient of this year's prize, whose name remains undisclosed for security reasons, has been living in Armenia for the past two years. The chief editor of the student-run "Amirkabir Newsletter," the recipient connects oppositional groups in Iran and is associated with reporting on abuses and human rights violations in the country.
The recipient was supposed to receive the award on September 1, 2025, but was denied entry to Germany over fears they might stay permanently. The Foreign Office cannot comment on the individual case due to privacy reasons.
The Aachen Peace Prize ceremony this year also recognised the Lohmeyer couple, who organise a music festival against right-wing extremism in Germany.
The Amirkabir Newsletter's scholarship from Yerevan University, valid until next year, could not prevent the visa denial. The Aachen Peace Prize is often given to individuals and groups from disadvantaged positions, making this year's decision particularly disappointing.
Legal requirements must be met for every visa application, according to the Foreign Office, but the specific reasons behind the denial remain unclear. The Aachen Peace Prize continues to stand for peace, understanding, and activism, and the editorial team of the Amirkabir Newsletter remains committed to these ideals.
