Cuban dissident journalist wins European Parliament human rights award

A Cuban dissident journalist who has carried out more than 20 hunger strikes in support of free speech was today announced as the winner of the European Parliament's Sakharov human rights prize.

Guillermo Fariñas, who set up the independent Cubanacán Press news agency which has now been closed down, has spent 11-and-a-half years in prison and carried out 23 hunger strikes in protest against the Cuban regime, according to the European Parliament.

In July this year he ended a four month hunger strike to demand the release of opposition activists from prison. Doctors said Fariñas, who had said he was 'ready to die' in the battle against censorship, had been near death. 

MEP's who nominated him for the Sakharov prize said his struggle "has been, and still is, a shining example for all defenders of freedom and democracy,"

"Guillermo Fariñas was ready to sacrifice and risk his own health and life as a means of pressure to achieve change in Cuba," EP president Jerzy Buzek said in a release.

"I hope to hand over the award to him in person, here in Strasbourg, in December, which would be a tremendous moment for the European Parliament and for all Cuban prisoners of conscience."

The prize, which is named after Soviet scientist Andrei Sakharov, comes with a cash award of 50,000 euros and will be presented at a ceremony on 15 December.

Fariñas was also awarded the Reporters Without Borders Cyber-Freedom Prize in 2006.

Free daily newsletter

If you like our news and feature articles, you can sign up to receive our free daily (Mon-Fri) email newsletter (mobile friendly).