Sakharov Prize: Tanzanian opposition leader, International Criminal Court, and Iranian sisters sentenced to death among finalists

MEPs selected the three finalists on Monday in Strasbourg. The President of the European Parliament, Roberta Metsola, will announce the laureate on October 22.

The Social Democrats nominated the International Criminal Court, its judges, lawyers, and staff for the Sakharov Prize for their investigations into genocide, war crimes, and crimes against humanity.

The Court has been under intense pressure from US President Donald Trump, who imposed sanctions against the ICC itself and its staff, and ordered their assets in the United States and credit cards to be blocked.

Tanzanian Opposition Leader and Iranian Sisters

Tundu Lissu has been imprisoned since 2025 and leads the opposition party "For Democracy and Progress" (Chadema) in Tanzania. He faces the death penalty on charges of treason.

The European People's Party and the European Conservatives and Reformists faction, who nominated him, explained their decision by Lissu's advocacy for free elections, an independent judiciary, and an end to political violence in Tanzania.

Additionally, sisters Taraneh and Ramina Rahimi, sentenced to death in Iran, were nominated this year as representatives of the protests in Iran. Their candidacy was proposed by the "Patriots for Europe" faction, which includes, among others, French right-wing populists.

David McAllister, Chair of the European Parliament's Committee on Foreign Affairs, representing the EPP, stated: "In times of war and rising repression, those who stand up for freedom must know that they have allies. The Sakharov Prize helps make their voices heard. Their courage reminds us that human rights must define our foreign policy, especially when their protection becomes a politically challenging task."

Award Ceremony in December

The Andrei Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought will be awarded on December 16 in Strasbourg. Since 1988, the European Parliament has awarded it to individuals and organizations advocating for human rights and freedom of expression. The monetary award is 50,000 euros.

Representatives of Belarus have been awarded the prize several times: in 2004 – the Belarusian Association of Journalists, in 2006 – Alyaksandr Milinkevich, in 2020 – the democratic opposition of Belarus. Last year, the prize was shared by journalist Andrzej Poczobut, who was imprisoned at the time, and Georgian journalist Aziza Amaglobeli, who was also imprisoned.

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