Brussels, 29/09/2009 (Agence Europe) - During a joint meeting of European Parliament development and foreign affairs committees on Wednesday 30 September in Brussels, MEPs and political groups will present the ten candidates shortlisted for the Sakharov Prize 2009. The €50,000 prize, which has been awarded each year since 1988, rewards those defending freedom of thought, human rights and fundamental freedoms. The choice of successor for Chinese dissident Hu Jia, the 2008 prizewinner, will be taken by the EP president and the presidents of the political groups on 22 October. The prize will be awarded in Strasbourg on 16 December. We recall that candidates must have the support of a political group made up of at least 40 MEPs.
The 2009 candidates are: - Dr Izzeldin Abuelaish (nominated by Véronique de Keyser, Hans-Gert Pöttering, Caroline Lucas and 52 other MEPs). Dr Abuelaish, who is a Palestinian gynaecologist residing in Jabalia, the largest refugee camp in the Gaza Strip, exercises his profession on both sides of the “border”, in Israel and in Palestine, through choice and through his ideal for peace. - Vicente Ferrer Foundation (nominated by Andrés Perelló and 39 other MEPs). This is a foundation which defends minority rights in India and combats extreme poverty. - Dawit Isaak, a Swedish-Eritrean journalist, writer and dramatist, who has been a political prisoner since 2001. He is the candidate of the GUE/NGL Group and 32 other MEPs. - Marian Lamizana. The minister for social action and national solidarity of Burkina Faso and activist against female genital mutilation has been nominated by the Europe of Freedom and Democracy (EFD) Group. - Lyudmila Alexeyeva, Oleg Orlov and Sergei Kovalev (on behalf of the “Memorial” association) and all human rights defenders in Russia have been put forward by the Greens Group. - Memorial. This organisation promoting fundamental rights in post-Soviet countries has been nominated by Jacek Saryusz-Wolski of Poland and 59 other MEPs. - Dr Denis Mukwege, a doctor in medicine who is the founder and director of the Panzi hospital in Bukavu in the Democratic Republic of Congo. He is specialised in treatment for female victims of rape and sexual abuse. His candidature is put forward by the ALDE Group. - Father Thaddeus Nguyen Van Ly, a Catholic priest and Vietnamese dissident engaged in pro-democracy movements, which has meant that he has spent 15 years behind bars. His candidature is put forward by 45 MEPs. - Shadi Sadr on behalf of Neda and the Iranian citizens who aspire to respect of human rights. Human rights lawyer in Iran, feminist and journalist, Shadi Sadr mainly fights for abolition of the death penalty and stoning, and is in favour of gender equality. Nominated by 40 MEPs; - and Robert Saviano. This Italian journalist and writer, known especially for his bestseller “Gomorra”, is threatened by the Italian mafia because of his denunciation of organised crime. His candidature is backed by Sonia Alfano and 39 other MEPs. (H.B./transl.jl)