Human rights - Olympic Games: Greens/EFA Group to award "medals for freedom" to political prisoners in China
In the final days before the Olympic Games in Beijing, the Greens/EFA Group in the European Parliament announce that they will award symbolic "medals of freedom" to political prisoners in China on each day of the Games. This follows an earlier initiative to present a list of political prisoners to Nicolas Sarkozy.
Greens/EFA Group copresidents Daniel Cohn-Bendit and Monica Frassoni said:
"When the Chinese authorities issue a call not to 'politicise' the Olympic Games, they ask us to turn a blind eye to the human rights situation in their country. While the world watches its athletes compete and win medals in the Games, it must not forget the people languishing in Chinese prisons. For this reason, on each day of the Olympic Games, the Greens/EFA Group in the European Parliament will award symbolic "medals of freedom" to political prisoners in China.
People are detained in China for fighting for rights that are considered basic in other parts of the world. While Olympic athletes earn their medals, we hope that the medals for freedom will draw attention to those who have been imprisoned for speaking out on democracy, practising their religion, fighting for women's and minority rights and defending the environment.
The first medals for freedom will be awarded to dissidents Hu Jia and his wife Zeng Jinyan, who were nominees for the European Parliament Sakharov prize for freedom of thought in 2007. Hu Jia, active in promoting democracy, environmental protection and AIDS awareness, was jailed in April this year for "subversion". Zeng Jinyan is currently under house arrest.
We welcome the decision of leaders who will not attend the Opening Ceremony and urge Nicolas Sarkozy and others who will participate in this political showcase not to remain silent in the face of extensive human rights abuses in China."
Note:
The medals for freedom will be awarded daily and announced on the Greens/EFA Group "Olympic Rights for Human Games" blog.
