http://www.edri.org/snowden-sakharov
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Today, 23 European non-governmental organisations released an open letter to
the Conference of Presidents of the European Parliament in support of Edward
Snowden's nomination for the Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought 2013.
Dear Presidents,
We write to you on behalf of 23 European non-governmental organisations
protecting fundamental rights, including the freedom of expression and
information, to lend our support to the selection of Edward Snowden for the
Sakharov Prize.
Edward Snowden’s recent disclosures have triggered a necessary and long-overdue
public debate in the United States and beyond about the acceptable boundaries
of surveillance in a democratic state and about the legitimacy and
proportionality of counter-terrorism intelligence activities. The revelations
also have prompted debates in the European Union.
The Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought was established to recognise
individuals actively working to defend human rights and fundamental freedoms,
in particular the right to freedom of expression. We believe that by his
personal example, Snowden meets these criteria. His nomination to the Prize is
in itself a contribution to the development of democracy and the rule of law in
the European Union, in particular with regards to the protection of
whistleblowers. It also sends a message of respect for international law.
Awarding the Prize to Snowden would give a clear signal to the world that the
EU values and protects those who are attacked for speaking out on violations of
human rights. Daniel Ellsberg and earlier NSA whistleblowers have praised
Snowden's actions. We are convinced that Andrei Sakharov would have done the
same.
Sakharov – a nuclear physicist turned opponent of a repressive state – used his
position in national security and defence to raise concerns about the
preservation of human rights. Similarly, Snowden used his professional
knowledge to draw attention to abuses of the fundamental rights of individuals
and their effect on entire societies. In their transition from state servants
to citizens' rights advocates, both men became dissidents, in the full
knowledge of the likely cost of this action to them. It is the moral duty of
the European Union to acknowledge a man who bravely stood up for our basic
human rights, anticipating the cost that his action would have for his personal
liberty. We are fully aware that all shortlisted candidates fully deserve their
nomination and we understand that the choice is difficult. However, not all
candidates are in the same position. Other nominees have already been provided
with many other awards and are less controversial, as their activism is
directed against totalitarian regimes.
When deciding the winner of the Sakharov Prize, please remember that Snowden
has shown to the world that blanket and unaccountable surveillance is not
limited to dictatorships, but that democracies can also undermine citizens'
fundamental freedoms. Please also keep in mind that one of the few things the
European Union can do right now is to support Edward Snowden.
Snowden’s actions represent a challenge to unfettered state power at the global
level, and without regard to conventional and simple nationalist dynamics. An
award would point the way towards safeguarding activism without borders in a
networked world. So far Edward Snowden has received neither recognition for his
courageous deeds nor support from the European Union collectively, from any
individual Member State or from any single European institution.
As European citizens we believe that the Sakharov Prize would be the best way
to change this undesirable state of affairs. Therefore we strongly encourage
you to award the Sakharov Prize to Edward Snowden in honour of his courage and
commitment to values that the Prize represents.
Sincerely yours
Alternative Informatics Association, Turkey
ApTI, Romania
Arbeitskreis Vorratsdatenspeicherung, Germany
ARTICLE 19, International
Bits of Freedom, The Netherlands
Chaos Computer Club e.V., Germany
DFRI, Sweden
Digitalcourage, Germany
Digitale Gesellschaft, Germany
Electronic Frontier Finland
European Digital Rights (EDRi)
Foundation for Information Policy Research, UK
Initiative für Netzfreiheit, Austria
Internet Society, Poland Chapter
IT-Political Association of Denmark
Iuridicum Remedium, Czech Republic
La Quadrature du Net, France
Modern Poland Foundation, Poland
Net Users' Rights Protection Association (NURPA), Belgium
Open Rights Group, UK
Panoptykon Foundation, Poland
Transnational Institute, The Netherlands
Vrijschrift, The Netherlands
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