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AljazeeraActivists, including Tunisian fruit seller whose death sparked uprisings, awarded European parliament's Sakharov Prize.Mohamed Bouazizi, the fruit vendor who died from his burns, won the prize along with Egyptian blogger Asmaa Mahfouz, former Libyan prisoner Ahmed al-Zubair Ahmed al-Sanusi and two Syrians - lawyer Razan Zeitouneh and cartoonist Ali Farzat. They were recognised by the European parliament for struggling for change in their countries at a ceremony in Strasbourg, France, on Thursday.
"These individuals contributed to historic changes in the Arab world," Jerzy Buzek, the European parliament president, said. "This award reaffirms parliament's solidarity and firm support for their struggle for freedom, democracy and the end of authoritarian regimes," he said.
He said their actions were "a symbol for all those working for dignity, democracy and fundamental rights in the Arab world and beyond".
Past winners of the Sakharov prize also include anti-apartheid icon Nelson Mandela, Myanmar democracy campaigner Aung San Suu Kyi and former UN chief Kofi Annan.
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http://english.aljazeera.net/news/middleeast/2011/10/20111027184244121504.html