Following a decision by Parliament’s Conference of Presidents, David SASSOLI, EP President, announces the winner of the Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought 2019 during the award ceremony in the European Parliament in Strasbourg. The winner is Ilham TOHTI, an Uyghur economist fighting for the rights of China’s Uyghur minority. He was sentenced to life imprisonment on separatism-related charges in 2014. He remains a voice of moderation and reconciliation.

statement

Strasbourg

plenary session

ceremony

SASSOLI, David Maria (S&D, IT, S&D, IT)

Sakharov Prize for freedom of thought 2019 (T)

Ilham Tohti  (CN)

Sakharov Prize 2019: extracts from the announcement of the laureate by David SASSOLI, EP President

SOUNDBITE (Italian), David SASSOLI, EP President, I am very pleased to announce that the European Parliament has chosen Ilham Tohti as the winner of the 2019 Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought. Tohti has dedicated his life to advocating for the rights of the Uyghur minority in China. Despite being a voice of moderation and reconciliation, he was sentenced to life in prison following a show trial in 2014. By awarding this prize, we strongly urge the Chinese government to release Tohti and we call for the respect of minority rights in China.

Views of the round table of the Conference of Presidents where the decision on the finalist has been taken (12 shots) .