By EuAsiaNews,
Brussels : The Dalai Lama the spiritual leader of Tibetans has been nominated to receive this year’s European Parliament’s Sakharov prize for freedom of thought and human rights.
Seven other names including that of Ingrid Betancourt, former Colombian Presidential candidate and political prisoner, have been submitted by Members of the European Parliament .
The prestigious prize named after Soviet scientist and dissident Andrei Sakharov was established in 1988 by the European Parliament as a means to honour individuals or organizations who had dedicated their lives to the defence of human rihgts and freedoms.
The nominations will be officially presented to a joint meeting of the EP’s Foreign Affairs Committee, Development Committee and Human Rights Subcommittee on Tuesday, 9 September.
The Foreign Affairs Committee will then narrow down the number of candidates to a shortlist of three. The winner will be chosen in mid-October and the prize will be awarded to the laureate on 17 December.