Civil Courage Prize 2009 (New York) to the Sahrawi activist Haidar
A woman alone with her bare hands and decked MELFA, the state can more invasive and complicit states rather than cowardice insanity English and French, more that want to steal oil and phosphates that have already won: the hundred-headed hydra can do nothing against Aminetu smile, the sacred memory of Gandhi's protest hands open: fall if thrown back, and if the roses will flow imprison their tracks and when spread its aroma, also fall. Surrender: Aminetu is in El Aaiun.
Gonzalo Moure Sahara writers
New York, 18/08/2009 (SPS) The Saharawi former political prisoner and human rights defender, Haidar, will be honored with the 2009 Civil Courage Prize for his peaceful resistance in the Western Sahara, in an awards ceremony to be held in the city of New York on October 20, 2009, announced on Monday the Train Foundation.
According to a statement issued by the Organization, Ms. Haidar is a courageous defender of the right to self-determination of Western Sahara from its occupation by Morocco and against "disappearances" and abuses of prisoners of consciousness. Is considered as the "Sahrawi Gandhi," Ms. Haidar is one of the most prominent human rights defenders in Western Sahara.
In 1987, at the age of 21 years, Ms. Haidar was one of 700 peaceful protestors arrested for participating in a rally calling for the referendum. Then it was "disappeared" without charge or trial and was in the secret places of detention for four years when she and 17 other Sahrawi women were tortured. In 2005, Moroccan police detained and beaten after participating in a peaceful demonstration. She was released after 7 months, thanks to international pressure international organizations such as Amnesty International and the European Parliament.
Since then Ms. Haidar has traveled the world to denounce the Moroccan military occupation and to advocate for the Sahrawi people's right to self determination. His efforts helped to change a little the Moroccan government in its violent tactics to disperse demonstrations in favor of independence. Unfortunately, torture and harassment of Sahrawi human rights defenders continues.
Ms. Haidar was born in 1967 in Laayoune, Western Sahara. She is the mother of two children and has a degree in modern literature. He was awarded Human Rights Award Robert F. Kennedy 2008, 2007 Silver Rose Award (Austria), and Human Rights Award 2006 Juan María Bandrés (Spain). She was appointed by Parliament for the Human Rights Award Andrei Sakarov. Amnesty International (USA) presented his candidacy for the Ginetta Sagan Fund Award. She was also nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize, the statement said.
The International Civil Courage Prize, has been sponsored since 2000 by the Railway Foundation (formerly Northcote Parkinson Fund), established by the Hon. Juan railway in 1987, honors individuals whose extraordinary acts, done deliberately, over time, have demonstrated the "strong resistance to evil at great personal risk. "Train Foundation will continue this initiative in cooperation with like-minded organizations around the world. (SPS)