Sakharov Prize 2016

The European Parliament unveiled on 15 September 2016 the nominees for the annual Sakharov Prize. They are:

+ Can Dünda (journalist) and fellow defenders of freedom of thought and expression in Turkey;
+ Mustafa Dzemilev, the Crimean Tatar leader;
+ the Yazidi survivors;
+ Nadia Murad Basee and Lamiya Aji Bashar, public advocates;
+ Ilham Tohti, Uyghur scholar.

On 27 October, it was announced that Yazidi survivors and public advocates Nadia Murad and Lamiya Aji Bashar were the prize's joint laureates for 2016.

The Parliament awards the Sakharov Prize every year to honour exceptional individuals and organisations defending human rights and fundamental freedoms.

• Primary Source

ESO: Key source: Sakharov Prize http://www.europeansources.info/record/sakharov-prize-for-freedom-of-thought/

European Parliament: Press Release, 11.10.16: Sakharov Prize 2016: discover the finalists http://www.europarl.europa.eu/news/en/news-room/20161007STO46179/

EurActiv, 12.10.16: EU shortlists Turkish journalist for rights prize http://www.euractiv.com/section/all/news/eu-shortlists-turkish-journalist-for-rights-prize/

Euronews, 11.10.16: MEPs unveil shortlist for EU rights prize http://www.euronews.com/2016/10/11/meps-unveil-shortlist-for-eu-rights-prize

European Parliament: Press Release, 27.10.16: Nadia Murad and Lamiya Aji Bashar winners of 2016 Sakharov Prize http://www.europarl.europa.eu/news/en/news-room/20161024STO48414/

Politico, 27.10.16: Parliament awards Sakharov Prize to Yazidi women http://www.politico.eu/article/parliament-awards-sakharov-prize-to-yazidi-women/

EurActiv, 12.12.16: MEPs: EU should recognise ISIS crimes against the Yazidi as genocide http://www.euractiv.com/section/global-europe/news/meps-eu-should-recognise-isis-crimes-against-yazidi-as-genocide/

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