Emirati rights activist wins 'Nobel Prize for human rights'
Emirati rights activist wins 'Nobel Prize for human rights'
A Swiss human rights organisation has awarded Emirati activist, Ahmed Mansoor, its annual award for activists who show deep commitment to their cause, despite huge personal risks.
2 min read
Mansoor was sentenced to three years in prison in 2011 [Getty]
An Emirati human rights activist, barred from leaving his home country, was named the 2015 winner of an award often dubbed the Nobel Prize for human rights.
Since 2006, Ahmed Mansoor has campaigned for freedom of expression and greater political and civil rights in the United Arab Emirates, and successfully pushed for the liberation of two bloggers jailed for highlighting social problems in the country.
On Tuesday, he was awarded the Martin Ennals award, named after the former secretary general of Amnesty International. The prize is given to human rights defenders who show deep commitment to their cause despite huge personal risk.
"Ahmed Mansoor is one of the few voices within the United Arab Emirates who provides a credible independent assessment of human rights developments in the country," the Martin Ennals Foundation said on its website.
Mansoor was sentenced to three years in prison in 2011 in a trial criticised by rights groups as "grossly unfair".
At the time, he stood accused, along with four others, of using the Internet to insult the UAE's leaders, of calling for a boycott of elections and of being linked to anti-government demonstrations.
Since 2006, Ahmed Mansoor has campaigned for freedom of expression and greater political and civil rights in the United Arab Emirates, and successfully pushed for the liberation of two bloggers jailed for highlighting social problems in the country.
On Tuesday, he was awarded the Martin Ennals award, named after the former secretary general of Amnesty International. The prize is given to human rights defenders who show deep commitment to their cause despite huge personal risk.
"Ahmed Mansoor is one of the few voices within the United Arab Emirates who provides a credible independent assessment of human rights developments in the country," the Martin Ennals Foundation said on its website.
Mansoor was sentenced to three years in prison in 2011 in a trial criticised by rights groups as "grossly unfair".
At the time, he stood accused, along with four others, of using the Internet to insult the UAE's leaders, of calling for a boycott of elections and of being linked to anti-government demonstrations.
 |
|
| The Martin Ennals award was created in 1993 [Getty] |
He was pardoned by the UAE's president later the same year, but was stripped of his passport and barred from overseas travel.
In July, an anti-discrimination law was passed in the UAE that can land offenders in prison for more than ten years. Human rights groups say it could be used selectively to suppress free speech.
Meanwhile, an Omani blogger is currently on trial for defaming the UAE, its rulers and people on social media.
The Martin Ennals award was created in 1993, two years after Ennals died.
Its jury is composed of Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch, the International Commission of Jurists and seven other international campaign organisations.
The debut recipient in 1994 was Chinese rights activist and former political prisoner Harry Wu, who moved to the United States in the mid-1980s. The winner receives a prize of 20,000 Swiss francs ($20,700) and the award can also go to a group.
In July, an anti-discrimination law was passed in the UAE that can land offenders in prison for more than ten years. Human rights groups say it could be used selectively to suppress free speech.
Meanwhile, an Omani blogger is currently on trial for defaming the UAE, its rulers and people on social media.
The Martin Ennals award was created in 1993, two years after Ennals died.
Its jury is composed of Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch, the International Commission of Jurists and seven other international campaign organisations.
The debut recipient in 1994 was Chinese rights activist and former political prisoner Harry Wu, who moved to the United States in the mid-1980s. The winner receives a prize of 20,000 Swiss francs ($20,700) and the award can also go to a group.
More In News
