Iranian Dissident To Receive Human Rights Award

Akbar Ganji with his wife after his release from prison in March (Fars)

May 23, 2006 – A dissident Iranian journalist, Akbar Ganji, has been selected as corecipient of a human rights prize, the Martin Ennals Award, by a grouping of 11 major human rights organizations.

The groups -- including Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch -- will present the $15,000 award in October.

Ganji was imprisoned in Iran for writings implicating officials in the murders of Iranian opposition members.

He will share the award with Arnold Tsunga, a lawyer and rights advocate from Zimbabwe.

(AFP)