Who will succeed the Chinese cyber-dissident Hu Jia, winner of the European Parliament’s 2008 Sakharov Prize for freedom of thought? The ten nominations for the 2009 prize were officially unveiled, on 30 September in Brussels, at a joint meeting of the Foreign Affairs Committee (AFET), the Development Committee (DEVE) and the Human Rights Subcommittee (DROI).

The list is as follows (each nomination must have the support of a political group or at least 40 MEPs):

- Dr Izzeldin Abuelaish: Palestinian gynaecologist and resident of Jabalia (the biggest refugee camp in the Gaza Strip), exercising his profession on both sides of the ‘border’, treating both Israelis and Palestinians. Nominated by Véronique de Keyser (S&D, Belgium), Hans Gert Pöttering (EPP, Germany), Caroline Lucas (Greens-EFA, UK) and 52 other MEPs.

- Foundation Vicente Ferrer: Foundation for the protection and promotion of minority rights in India and the eradication of extreme poverty. Nominated by Andrés Perelló (S&D, Spain) and 39 other MEPs.

- Dawit Isaak: Swedish journalist, writer and playwright of Eritrean origin, who has been a political prisoner in Eritrea since 2001. Nominated by Eva-Britt Svensson (Sweden) on behalf of the European United Left-Nordic Green Left group as well as Olle Schmidt (ALDE, Sweden) and 31 other MEPs.

- Mariam Lamizana: Minister for social action and national solidarity of Burkina Faso and activist in the fight against genital mutilation of women. Nominated by Francesco Speroni (Italy) on behalf of the Europe of Freedom and Democracy group, of which he is co-president.

- Lyudmila Alexeyeva, Oleg Orlov and Sergei Kovalev on behalf of Memorial and all other human rights defenders in Russia : Organisation promoting fundamental rights in post-Soviet states. Nominated by Rebecca Harms (Germany) and Daniel Cohn-Bendit (France) on behalf of the group of the Greens-European Free Alliance, of which they are co-presidents.

- Memorial: Organisation promoting fundamental rights in post-Soviet states. Nominated by Jacek Saryusz-Wolski (EPP, Poland) and 59 others.

- Dr Denis Mukwege: Doctor, founder and head of Panzi Hospital in Bukavu, Democratic Republic of Congo. He has dedicated his life to helping Congolese women and girls who are victims of gang rape and brutal sexual violence. Nominated by Guy Verhofsdtadt (Belgium) on behalf of the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe (ALDE) group, of which he is president.

- Father Thaddeus Nguyen Van Ly: Roman Catholic priest and prominent Vietnamese dissident involved in pro-democracy movements, for which he was imprisoned for almost 15 years. Nominated by Michael Gahler (EPP, Germany) and 44 other MEPs.

- Shadi Sadr on behalf of Neda and Iranian citizens striving for respect for human rights:Iranian human rights attorney, feminist, activist and journalist, a campaigner for the abolition of the death penalty and stoning as well as for women’s rights. Nominated by Marietje Schaake (ALDE, Netherlands), Barbara Lochbihler (Greens-EFA, Germany) and 38 other MEPs.

- Roberto Saviano: Italian journalist and writer, author of the book ‘Gomorra’, threatened by the Mafia as a consequence of his uncompromising attacks on organised crime. Nominated by Sonia Alfano (ALDE, Italy) and 39 other MEPs.

DECISION BY GROUP LEADERS

Three finalists will be chosen from this list, on 6 October, by MEPs from the AFET and DEVE committees. Then, on 22 October, the Conference of Group Presidents will choose the winner and the prize will be awarded on 16 December in the Strasbourg plenary. It will be accompanied by a cheque for €50,000. This year’s award coincides with the 20th commemoration of the death of Andrei Sakharov, a Russian physician and winner of the Nobel Peace Prize. Since 1988, the Parliament has awarded the Sakharov Prize annually to democracy and human rights campaigners. n