Mozn Hassan, founder and executive director of Nazra NGO for feminist studies could not travel to Stockholm, Sweden to receive a Right Livelihood Award.
In her honor, the organizers decided to hold an Award ceremony in Cairo Egypt, on Saturday, with many civil rights activists and organizations in attendance.
The foundation's award is often referred to as the "alternative Nobel prize" and Hassan received it in recognition for her continuous fight for women's rights in Egypt.
She had missed the official award ceremony in Stockholm on 25 November, 2016, due to a travel ban.
In her acceptance speech, Hassan stated that she "believes the presence of independent civil society in Egypt is under threat," but also stressed on the fact that she still has faith "in the new generation to pursue the cause," according to Daily News Egypt.
Authorities have been imposing a travel ban on Hassan since 27 June, 2016.
A North Cairo Elementary Court also decided to freeze Hassan's assets on January 11, 2017.
The rulings come in light of a relaunched 2011 case that accused several NGOs of illegally receiving foreign funding. Investigations in the case began in 2011 and were reopened recently by authorities in Egypt.
Other NGOs affected by the case include the Cairo Institute for Human Rights Studies, the Nadeem Center for Rehabilitation of Victims of Violence, and several others.
The crackdown on civil society in Egypt and on Nazra in specific was reprimanded by organizations around the world.
According to The Guardian, over forty women’s rights organizations condemned the rulings against Nazra and more than 130 academics signed a statement in support of Hassan and her NGO, criticizing Egypt's crackdown on civil society.