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| Waleed Abulkhair | |
Lawyer and human rights activist Waleed Abulkhair has been named this year's recipient of the PEN International Writer of Courage award. The award--given to a writer who has been persecuted for speaking out about their beliefs--was announced by PEN Pinter Prize winner Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie.
Currently serving a 15-year prison sentence, Abulkhair is a founding member of the Monitor of Human Rights in Saudi Arabia and has written for local and international media. He has also represented fellow activists and writers; and provided salons for liberal youth to discuss new ideas, after laws around public gatherings were tightened to prevent "unbelief'"and "deviant thought."
Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie said: "I am proud to share this year's PEN Pinter Prize with activist, lawyer and writer Waleed Abulkhair. Waleed has dedicated his life to holding the Saudi authorities accountable for human rights abuses. He has dedicated his life to speaking out, to supporting the victims of those abuses. Waleed, like Harold Pinter, has shown a lucid dedication to telling his truth. But rather than being lauded for this dedication, Waleed has paid a heavy price--15 years behind bars. I am deeply proud to share this prize with Waleed and I hope that this small act of solidarity will bring him some comfort, and will remind him that his struggle has not been forgotten, nor will it be in vain."