Irish MEPs’ group proposes Edward Snowden for Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought

‘Edward Snowden risked his life to confirm what we had long suspected regarding mass online surveillance, a major scandal of our times’

THE European United Left/Nordic Green Left (GUE/NGL) group in the European Parliament – which includes Sinn Féin MEP Martina Anderson and Socialist Party MEP Paul Murphy – will today nominate Edward Snowden for the 2013 Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought.

The Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought is awarded annually by MEPs. Parliament's Conference of Presidents will decide on the 2013 winner in October.

Announcing the move, a GUE/NGL spokesperson said:

“Whistleblowers cannot be treated like criminals. They must have our protection. Edward Snowden risked his life to confirm what we had long suspected regarding mass online surveillance, a major scandal of our times. He revealed details of violations of EU data protection law and fundamental rights.”

The official nomination will be handed in today (Wednesday) and presented by French GUE/NGL MEP Marie-Christine Vergiat (pictured above right) on Monday 16 September in a joint meeting of the Foreign Affairs, Development and Human Rights committees.