Iranian activist Masih Alinejad accused Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez and European officials for engaging with Iranian authorities while women blinded by the Islamic Republic's crackdown were denied visas to attend an event in Madrid. Speaking at a Friday ceremony for the 13th FAES Freedom Award, which she shared with Russian opposition figure Yulia Navalnaya and Cuban dissident Rosa María Payá, Alinejad accused European leaders of welcoming officials responsible for repression in Iran. “They're lining up one after another to pose for a photo, to shake the hand of the killers and proudly post the photos on their social media,” she said, singling out Sánchez and senior European officials. “Shame on you when you hand shake the hand of the killers.” She ended her speech by saying, “You can pursue diplomacy, but don't make our eyes the price.” During the UN General Assembly in New York in September, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi was photographed shaking hands with Spanish Foreign Minister José Manuel Albares, and also met with EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas. Sharing a video of her speech on X on Saturday, Alinejad wrote: “Europe issue visas to those who shake hands with the executioners of Tehran and Kabul. They roll out the red carpet for the men who hang our children. But some of the women in my delegation who are blinded by Islamic Republic and Taliban were denied a visa. They could not even stand here in Madrid.”