Rapper Weld El 15 is a candidate for the 2014 Sakharov Prize. The European Parliament presented, Tuesday, September 23, the young Aladin Yaâcoubi at a joint meeting of foreign affairs and development commissions as well as the subcommittee of human rights.
Weld el 15 is accompanied, for this prize, by Moroccan rapper Mouad Belghouate (also known as El Haqed) as well as the Egyptian blogger and political activist Alaa Abdel Fattah. They were nominated by the group of the European unitary / Green left left.
The other six candidates for the 2014 Sakharov prize are:
Mahmoud Al’asali, professor of law at the University of Mosul who defended the rights of Christians and was killed last July and Louis Raphael Sako, born in Iraq and patriarch of the Chaldean Catholic Church. Both were nominated for their defense of religious freedom in the country by the group of European conservatives and reformists, Anna Záborská and 66 other deputies.
Organizations for the protection of Christian minorities in different parts of the CHREDO world, open doors, work of the East and aid to the church in distress, nominated by Philippe Juvin and 60 other deputies.
The Ukrainian movement favorable to the European Union Euromaidan, represented by journalist Mustafa Nayem, as well as the musician and winner of Eurovision Ruslana Lyshychko, activist Yelyzaveta Schepetylnykova and journalist Tetiana Chornovol, nominated by Jacek Saryusz-Wolski and 52 other deputies.
American activist Ayaan Hirsi Ali, born in Somalia, defender of women’s rights in Islamic societies and known for her opposition to female genital mutilation, nominated by the Europe group of freedom and direct democracy.
Denis Mulwege, a Congolese gynecologist specializing in the treatment of rape victims and founder of Panzi Hospital in Bukavu (DRC), designated by the Group of the Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats (S&D) and the Alliance group of Democrats and Liberals for Europe as well as by Barbara Lochbihler.
Leyla Yunus, human rights activist and director The Institute of Peace and Democracy imprisoned in Azerbaijan, nominated by the Greens/European Free Alliance group as well as Alexander Graf Lambsdorff, Marietke Schaake and Ramon Tremosa.
All these candidates were proposed by political groups or at least 40 European deputies. The Sakharov Prize for Freedom of the Spirit is awarded each year by the European Parliament.
It was created in 1988 to honor collective or individual personalities who endeavor to defend human rights and fundamental freedoms.
The European Parliament will designate the three finalists for its prize rewarding the freedom to think on October 7, then the winner will be known on the 16th. Malala Yousafzai won the prize last year for his fight for girls’ education in Pakistan.
