Palestinian peace activist Jean Zaru was on Tuesday named winner of the Anna Lindh Prize, a human rights award created in memory of the murdered Swedish foreign minister.
Ms. Zaru, a former teacher and Quaker leader who lives in the Palestinian city of Ramallah, was cited for her “tireless efforts” to call for non—violence and to work for “dialogue between religions, and as a sole female religious leader in the Middle East is also a role model for female leadership.” In a statement, Ms. Zaru, 70, said the prize would encourage her to continue with her work to take on violent, oppressive structures with non—violent means.
The prize, worth 150,000 kronor (19,000 dollars), was created as a tribute to Lindh, who was stabbed to death in September 2003.
The prize presentation is due on June 10, the Anna Lindh Memorial Fund said.
Ms. Zaru has been active in the World Council of Churches and authored the book, Occupied with Nonviolence: A Palestinian Woman Speaks.
Last year the Anna Lindh Prize was awarded to President Mohamed Nasheed of the Maldives for efforts to highlight how global warming will affect the inhabitants of the island chain in the Indian Ocean.
Other winners include exiled Myanmar activist Khin Ohmar, who won the 2008 prize, and Colombian activist Leonor Zalabata Torres, who won the 2007 prize for campaigning for the rights of indigenous people in the South American nation.
