PRESS RELEASEEMBARGO: 13 February 2006 - 12hGMT Announcement of the nominees for the Martin Ennals Award 2006
The Jury of the Martin Ennals Award for Human Rights Defenders (MEA) announced today that the following 4 persons were selected as nominees for the 2006 Award: Akbar Ganji (Iran)
Akbar Ganji is in prison for having expressed publicly his opinion for democratic reforms and denounced State crimes. He has been tortured and ill-treated. Since 2000 he has been charged of "undermining national security and propaganda against institutions of the Islamic State". His supporters fear for his life. Arnold Tsunga (Zimbabwe)
Arnold Tsunga has been representing victims of human rights abuses and campaigning for greater respect for human rights; he has repeatedly denounced the undemocratic system of justice. He has been threatened, detained, and is constantly harassed. Golden Misabiko (DR Congo)
Golden Misabiko has denounced human rights violations in his country for the past 20 years. He was tortured in 2001 and had to flee the country in 2002 in view of dead threats. He came back in 2005 and since then he has been detained several times and consistently harassed. Jennifer Williams (Zimbabwe)
Jennifer Williams, one of the leaders of WOZA (Women of Zimbabwe Arise), continues to organise and lead peaceful protests against the ongoing erosion of human rights, in spite of having been arrested and beaten by the police. The Chairman of the Jury, Hans Thoolen, explained that in 2005 the Jury had decided to start to publicly announcing the leading candidates as they are all in an urgent need of protection. The four were retained after careful selection by the ten human rights organisations that constitute the Jury. On 23 May, the Jury will announce the final MEA laureate at a conference in the Carter Centre in Atlanta, USA. The JURY is composed of the following: Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch, Human Rights First, International Federation for Human Rights, World Organization Against Torture, International Commission of Jurists, German Diakonie, International Service for Human Rights, International Alert, HURIDOCS. The MEA laureates are: Aktham Naisse, Syria (2005); Lida Yusupova, Russia (2004); Alirio Uribe Muñoz, Colombia (2003); Jacqueline Moudeina, Chad (2002); Peace Brigades International (2001); Immaculée Birhaheka, DR Congo (2000); Natasa Kandic, Yugoslavia (1999); Eyad El Sarraj, Palestine (1998); Samuel Ruiz García, Mexico (1997); Clement Nwankwo, Nigeria (1996); Asma Jahangir, Pakistan (1995); Harry Wu, China (1994). For other information, please contact Luis Marreiros, Coordinator MEA/MEF, Tel: +41.22.8094925 marreiros@martinennalsaward.org or visit our website for other documents and pictures of nominees: www.martinennalsward.org |
