$ 72,000 … A Saudi activist wins a European prize for human rights

A Saudi activist won a prestigious European human rights award of 60,000 euros ($ 72,200).

Yesterday, Monday, the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe announced the awarding of its annual “Vaclav Havel” prize for human rights to Saudi activist Loujain Al-Hathloul.

According to Deutsche Welle, the German radio station, Lina Al-Hathloul, Jane’s sister, was the one who received the award on behalf of the latter who was banned from traveling in her country.

According to the same source, “the association awards the award, valued at 60,000 euros ($ 72,200), every year since 2013 to people fighting for human rights. The award was named after a former Czech president and civil rights activist.”

The Saudi activist, Loujain Al-Hathloul, 31, was arrested in May 2018, and last December, the Saudi judiciary sentenced her to 5 years and 8 months imprisonment, suspended for two years and 10 months.

The court convicted the defendant of committing criminal acts under Article 43 of the Law on Combating Terrorism Crimes and Its Financing, such as inciting to change the Basic Law of Governance and seeking to serve a foreign agenda inside the country, and she was released on February 10.