Cuban dissident Guillermo Fariñas wins EU's Sakharov Prize

Cuban dissident Guillermo Fariñas wins EU's Sakharov Prize

2010-10-21 19:54:59 GMT+7 (ICT)

BRUSSELS (BNO NEWS) -- Cuban dissident Guillermo Fariñas on Thursday was declared the winner of the 2010 Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought, the European Union (EU) said.

Guillermo Fariñas, 48, a doctor of psychology, an independent journalist and a political dissident, was nominated "in the name of all those who fight in Cuba for freedom and human rights."

Fariñas has conducted 23 hunger strikes over the years, and received international attention during his 135 day hunger strike, which ended on July 8, after the Cuban government announced the release of 52 political prisoners following mediation by the Catholic Church.

"Guillermo Fariñas was ready to sacrifice and risk his own health and life as a means of pressure to achieve change in Cuba", said European Parliament (EP) President Jerzy Buzek when announcing the winner in plenary.

"I hope to hand over the award to him in person, here in Strasbourg, in December, which would be a tremendous moment for the European Parliament and for all Cuban prisoners of conscience. I sincerely hope that, together with Guillermo Fariñas, the Ladies in White (Damas de Blanco), another Cuban Sakharov laureate from 2005, will also be able to collect their Sakharov Prize in person".

The Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought, named after Soviet scientist and dissident Andrei Sakharov, was established in December 1988 by the EP as a means to honor individuals or organizations who dedicate their lives to the defence of human rights and freedoms, particularly the right to freedom of expression.

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