September 17, 2013
Detained Ethiopian journalists Reeyot Alemu and Eskinder Nega have been nominated for Sakharov Prize, European Parliament said. Edward Snowden is also among the seven nominees.
The EU press release read “Reeyot Alemu and Eskinder Nega were nominated by Ana Maria Gomes (S&D, PT) and 40 other MEPs” and added,
These Ethiopian journalists are serving prison terms on terrorism charges. Ms Alemu was sentenced in January 2012 after writing columns critical of the government, and Mr Nega was sentenced six months later, after criticizing the prosecution of journalists and dissidents in Ethiopia and writing about how an Arab Spring-like democracy movement might arise there. “
Considered as one of the highest recognitions for human rights work, previous Sakharov prize winners include people like Aung San Suu Kyi and Nelson Mandela.
The 16-year-old Malala, the Pakistani schoolgirl who survived a Taliban assassination attempt last year has been nominated by three caucuses.
Other nominees for the Sakharov prize this year include jailed former Russian oligarch and declared foe of Putin – Mikhail Khodorkovsky, and Belarus political prisoners Ales Belyatsky, Eduard Lobau and Mykola Statkevich.
The CNN Freedom Project, a global media campaign for raising awareness on human trafficking is also nominated for the Sakharov prize this year.
The prize winner is expected to be declared on October 10.
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