Award of the 2015 Sakharov Prize during the EP plenary session in Strasbourg. Interview of Ensaf HAIDAR, wife of Raif BADAWI, Laureate of the 2015 Sakharov Prize

Strasbourg

interview

Sakharov Prize for freedom of thought 2015 (T)

BADAWI, Raif (SA)

Sakharov Prize 2015: interview of Ensaf HAIDAR, wife of Raif BADAWI, Laureate of 2015 Sakharov Prize

SOUNDBITE (Arabic) Ensaf HAIDAR, wife of Raif BADAWI,Laureate of the 2015 Sakharov Prize: Frankly I feel that my happiness here is still incomplete. I wished to be here together with Raif and not by myself, but I hope that the future will be much better.

SOUNDBITE (Arabic) Ensaf HAIDAR, wife of Raif BADAWI,Laureate of the 2015 Sakharov Prize:  I will like to tell them (to the women in Saudi Arabia) that it is their right to work and to live exactly as other women in the world are on equal footing with men. I hope that they will be an active part of the society. Indeed they can be so in their community and society. We have definitely women that could get out of this unequal situation, gender situation, and I wish them serenity and success.

SOUNDBITE (Arabic) Ensaf HAIDAR, wife of Raif BADAWI,Laureate of the 2015 Sakharov Prize: Frankly usually I'm hopeful and I have to say that after we got this Prize my feeling was that it will be only a matter of days for Raif to be released. Undoubtedly this is an outstanding Prize and we are very honoured to have received for Raif this award as it is one of the biggest Prize in Europe, the Sakharov Prize. I hope this will pave the way for its freedom. I don't want to rush things but I don't lose my hope. Raif is a peaceful person, he expresses himself peacefully and I hope that soon he will be released and go back to freedom.

SOUNDBITE (Arabic) Ensaf HAIDAR, wife of Raif BADAWI,Laureate of the 2015 Sakharov Prize: I would like to thank all women and all countries in Europe and USA and Canada. I would like to thank all of them for giving me hope and courage to move forward. Without their support I wouldn't be so hopeful. Giving their support I really feel more optimistic and hopeful, I have the courage to go on. I would like to thank them from the bottom of my heart and ask them to continue encouraging me so I will not lose hope.