RAIF BADAWI: 2015 Laureate of the Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought

As part of the events to mark the award of this year’s Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought, Jeanine Meerapfel, President of the Akademie der Künste, and Frank Piplat, Head of the European Parliament Information Office in Germany, are hosting a joint panel discussion.

On the 29 October 2015, the European Parliament decided to award this year’s Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought to Raif Badawi. Saudi Arabian blogger, writer and activist, Raif Badawi is the creator of the Free Saudi Liberals website, an online platform for political and religious debate. In 2012, he was arrested on the charge of insulting Islam on his online platform, and sentenced to ten years in prison, 1,000 lashes and a substantial fine. Since then, his wife Ensaf Haidar, presently living in Canada, has been calling forcefully and energetically for his release. As part of this process, she has founded the Raif Badawi Foundation.

The European Parliament established the Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought in 1988. The prize is awarded to individuals or organisations making an exceptional contribution to the fight for human rights. Previous Laureates include Nelson Mandela, Malala Yousafzai and Jafar Panahi.

A cooperation between the European Parliament Information Office in Germany and the Akademie der Künste.

 
Programme
 
Welcome Address
Jeanine Meerapfel, President of the Akademie der Künste
Frank Piplat, Head of the European Parliament Information Office in Germany
 
Keynote
Ensaf Haidar, wife of Raif Badawi, President of the Raif Badawi Foundation
 
Panel Discussion
Michael Brand, Chair of the German Bundestag Committee on Human Rights and Humanitarian Aid
Ensaf Haidar, wife of Raif Badawi, President of the Raif Badawi Foundation
Alexander Graf Lambsdorff, Vice-President of the European Parliament
 
Presenter
Tina Gerhäusser, Deutsche Welle
 
Simultaneous translation into German and Arabic.

For more information about the event:
Laila Wold | European Parliament Information Office
Tel.: +49 30 2280 - 1060
 
Registration
By 17 December 2015 using the online form or via email to: veranstaltungen-berlin@europarl.europa.eu 
If registrations should exceed the capacity of the venue, places will be allocated in the order that the registrations are received.

Admission free, registration required

More details
The Akademie der Künste is unable to accept reservations. Registrations should be made using the online form.