Egypt’s Director of the Cairo Institute for Human Rights Studies, Mohamed Zaree, is among three finalists nominated for the 2017 Martin Ennals award -- a prize for those who provide protection and support to human rights defenders who are at risk. The head of the Global Human Rights Defenders Team at Amnesty International said Zaree “is in imminent danger of being detained, despite fighting and working for human rights”. The two other candidates for the award are Karla Avelar, a transgender woman from El Salvador, and a group of five human rights defenders in pre-trial detention in Cambodia (FreeThe5KH). FreeThe5KH have been detained for their work with the Cambodian Human Rights and Development Association amid a crackdown on civil society and political opposition in Cambodia. The winner of the award receives a minimum of 20,000 Swiss francs, while finalists receive a minimum of 5,000 Swiss francs each.

Source: Egypt Independent April 27, 2017 11:37 UTC