By Martin Banks - 24th October 2007
Parliament's Sakharov prize for freedom of thought has been awarded this year to Sudanese human rights lawyer Salih Mahmoud Osman.
The decision was announced by the assembly’s president Hans-Gert Poettering in Strasbourg today.
Osman, who works with the Sudan Organisation Against Torture, has for over two decades provided free legal aid to victims of human rights abuses in his country.
He was the unanimous choice of the leaders of parliament’s political groups among the three finalists.
His records of crimes in Darfur have been passed to the International Criminal Court.
Osman is actively involved in the protection of the two million Sudanese who were displaced from their homes.
He has paid personally for his fight to help others - members of his own family were killed and tortured by the militias – and was imprisoned by the Sudanese government for several months in 2004 without charge or a trial.
Speaking in Strasbourg, EPP-ED leader Joseph Daul welcomed the decision, saying there was a consensus that he should be awarded the annual prize.
He said, "It is a reward for his two decades of lasting efforts to defend innocent people who have been detained, tortured and abused in Sudan.
"I hope the European public will notice what this courageous man has achieved in the name of justice and freedom and that the crisis in Darfur will be solved with the greater involvement of the international community."
The prize is given to individuals or organisations for their efforts to defend human rights and fundamental freedoms and who stand against oppression and injustice.
Parliament also honoured the life and work of the Russian journalist Anna Politkovskaya , who was assassinated in Moscow last October.
It is believed that the still unsolved assassination was linked with her work as an investigative journalist.
"Freedom of speech and independent media are the indispensable pillars of democracy. I welcome the decision to honour Politkovskaya as she exemplifies bravery and courage in the defence of freedom of speech", said Daul.
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