Sakharov Prize awarded to Pakistani girl injured by Taliban militants
Malala Yusufzai, the holder of the Sakharov Prize for 2013. Photo by Adrees Latif/Reuters
Malala
Yusufzai, a 16-year-old Pakistani human rights activist, wounded by
Taliban militants, has been awarded Sakharov Prize for 2013.
"We
decided to let the world know that our hope for a better future is
based on young people, such as Malala Yusufzai", said the
President of the European People's Party in the European Parliament
.
Earlier, the young activist was awarded the title of
"Humanist of the Year " according to Harvard University and
Anna Politkovskaya Award.
During five years Malala Yusufzai
kept a blog for BBC telling about the life of her native region of
Swat, which was under the rule of the Taliban in 2007-2009. In her
diary the girl described the crimes committed by the militants,
including the violation of women's rights.
In October 2012 the
Taliban stopped the school bus by which Malala was traveling and
opened fire on children, as a result of which the girl was shot in
the neck and the head. At first she was taken to a hospital in
Pakistan, but later was transported to the UK, where she had a number
of operations , one of which is allowed to return her hearing.
In
the summer of 2013 one of the leaders of the Taliban, Adnan Rashid
wrote her a letter that said he was shocked by the attack on her and
"would like to see this never happened". In this case,
Rashid did not condemn the actions of the militants, saying that
their action was a response to the "smear campaign" waged
by Malala Yusufzai against the Taliban.
Sakharov Prize is
presented annually by the European Parliament for its achievements in
the protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms, democracy
and the upholding of the rule of law, respect for international law
and the protection of minority rights. It was first awarded in 1988.
In 2012 the prize was awarded to Iranian lawyer Nasrin Satudeh, kept
in jail since 2010 on charges of activities that undermine the
security of the state, as well as propaganda aimed against the
current regime. She was released shortly after receiving the award.
