Right Livelihood Award goes to Iranian human rights lawyer Nasrin Sotoudeh

A jailed Iranian human rights lawyer and a Belarusian activist were honoured on Thursday with an award often called "the alternative Nobel prize."

The Stockholm-based foundation, which awards the Right Livelihood Award, said it was "shocked at the news" that Iranian authorities on the eve of the ceremony had ordered Nasrin Sotoudeh back to prison, where she is serving a more than 30-year sentence.

"As she went back to prison yesterday there was not a quiver in her voice," foundation director Ole von Uexkull said at the ceremony.

Sotoudeh, the first Iranian to receive the award, was temporarily released on 7 November and had contracted COVID-19 while in prison, the foundation said.

In a rare recorded statement played at the ceremony streamed from Stockholm's Eric Ericson Hall, Soutodeh noted that "during the years when I was imprisoned solely on account of carrying out my professional duties, I have benefitted from the support of the public and foundations such as yours."

She underlined the need to be aware of "the plight of all the political prisoners in Iran" and called for their release.

Swedish Foreign Minister Ann Linde presented the award to Sotoudeh, saying it was "in recognition of your fearless activism to promote human rights and fundamental freedoms in Iran at great personal risk."

Sotoudeh's clients include Nobel Peace Prize Laureate Shirin Ebadi, who in a recorded video message recalled how she had encouraged her to study law. Ebadi also called for Sotoudeh's release.

Thursday's ceremony also honoured Ales Bialiatski of Belarus and the human rights organisation Viasna, which he founded in 1996.

They were cited "for their resolute struggle for the realisation of democracy and human rights in Belarus," the foundation said.

In his remarks, Bialiatski mentioned the protests and heavy price paid by activists during the months-long brutal reprisals by long-serving authoritarian President Alexander Lukashenko.

"For six months now, the Belarusian society has been engaged in a breath-taking struggle. A fight for human rights, democracy and justice," he said.

"Four demonstrators have been killed. More than 20,000 arrested and over 1,000 people injured," he added, referring to the protests that followed the president's disputed re-election.

Bialiatski - the only laureate able to be present in Stockholm – has been jailed several times over his activities. His time in prison was a source of nightmares, he said, adding "my heart and thoughts are with Nasrin now."

Bialiatski and Viasna - initially set up to assist political prisoners, and which now also documents human rights and monitors elections - were the first Belarusian recipients of the award that was created to honour achievements pertaining to human rights, environmental protection and peace.

The foundation said the jury considered 182 nominees from 71 different countries this year.

First announced in 1980, the awards are not connected to the prizes endowed by Swedish industrialist Alfred Nobel.

Also honoured were U.S. lawyer and civil rights advocate Bryan Stevenson, and Lottie Cunningham Wren, a lawyer and environmental activist and member of Nicaragua's indigenous Miskito people.

Stevenson, founder of the organisation Equal Justice Initiative (EJI), received the award for "his inspiring endeavour to reform the US criminal justice system and advance racial reconciliation in the face of historic trauma."

Cunningham was lauded "for her ceaseless dedication to the protection of indigenous lands and communities from exploitation and plunder."

Von Uexkull said the four laureates this year were strong supporters of democracy and human rights, and shared some common traits.

"It's organising, it's empowering others to stand up," he added. Each of the four recipients received a cash prize worth 1 million kronor (111,000 dollars).

Last year, Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg, 17, was among the winners.

Past laureates include whistle-blower Edward Snowden, and Denis Mukwege, a doctor from the Democratic Republic of Congo, for his efforts to assist thousands of rape victims. Mukwege shared the 2018 Nobel Peace Prize.    (dpa)