Meet the 2022 Lantos Congressional Fellows: Zita Barcza-Szabó

The Lantos Foundation is thrilled to announce the relaunch of the Lantos Congressional Fellows Program, following a two-year pause due to the Covid-19 pandemic. Tom Lantos, the program’s namesake, first came to the United States on a scholarship and was a professor, himself. He had a profound belief in the power of education and practiced the art of lifelong learning. The Lantos Congressional Fellows Program honors his commitment to educating the next generation.

Lantos Fellows are carefully selected from an elite pool of post-college and post-graduate level students from Europe and Israel. Through fellowships hosted by U.S. congressional offices, they have the opportunity to work in the United States and gain a better understanding of the role of human rights in American politics and the legislative process. The Fellows participate in weekly meetings with leading human rights activists, policy experts and other professionals.

More than 100 fellows have participated in the program from countries including Belgium, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Denmark, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Israel, Italy, the Netherlands, Norway, Scotland, Sweden, Turkey and the United Kingdom. Nearly 50 congressional offices have hosted Lantos Fellows, and the program is fully bipartisan – both Republican and Democratic offices host Lantos Fellows.

This year, three outstanding Lantos Fellows have been selected to participate in the program. They arrived in Washington, DC and began work at their respective congressional offices this week. Read on to learn more about the 2022 class of Lantos Fellows.

Zita Barcza-Szabó

Country of origin: Hungary

Languages spoken: Hungarian, English, German

University degrees: MA in Law from Eötvös Loránd University (2016); LLM (advanced law degree) in Human Rights from the Central European University (2021) 

Zita is an accomplished legal professional, who has a range of experience in human rights law. As part of her work for the Hungarian Helsinki Committee, she developed a European litigation guide for a project on classified data in asylum and return procedures. It was used before a Slovenian court and resulted in the release of the applicant from unlawful detention. She is an affiliated researcher for the organization Human Rights Nudge and was a co-author of the annual country report on Hungarian asylum law and practice for the last six years, published by the European Council on Refugees and Exiles. She has successfully litigated before the Court of Justice of the European Union, leading to a ban on psychological tests to determine sexual orientation in asylum procedures. She has provided legal advice and representation for asylum seekers before Hungarian and international bodies, helping secure refugee status, statelessness status and Hungarian citizenship for many.  

What motivated you to apply for the Lantos Fellows Program?

Right before applying for the fellowship, I was working on a research project that examined the compliance of Hungary with judgments delivered by the European Court of Human Rights. Therefore, my focus turned to the work of, in American terms, the legislative and executive branches. I realized that, both on the domestic and international level, human rights judgments are dead letters unless there is political will from both branches of government work together to implement them. The Lantos Fellows Program offers the opportunity to gain insight into how human rights can be strengthened through the legislative processes, therefore it was an ideal way to continue pursuing this research. My initial enthusiasm about the program only grew when I learned more about Tom Lantos and his legacy.

 What do you hope to learn or gain from your time as a Lantos Fellow?

I hope to gain on-the-job experience in legislation and political negotiations and learn how human rights can be successfully placed at the forefront during such processes. I am confident I will meet people who will inspire me and hopefully be examples that I can follow. The program will also give me greater knowledge of the U.S. Constitution, American society and will enrich my worldview by exposing me to new and different perspectives other than the European way of thinking.

 How do you think being a Lantos Fellow will help you on your career path?

The most important thing to me is that my job has the potential to make complex changes in societies to maintain or (re)establish democracy and the rule of law. I think a greater understanding of how a legislative body works will be a great benefit to me, whether in my home country or wherever I live or work around the world in the future. Being a Lantos Fellow is an honor and responsibility at the same time, and I will work hard to live up to the legacy of Tom Lantos.

What will you miss the most from your native country while you are living in America?

I moved abroad in 2018. Since then, the things I have missed most have been my family, the Hungarian theatre and the neighborhood around the dearest building to me in Budapest, the Dohány Street Synagogue.

 If you could have dinner with any human rights figure (living or deceased), who would it be? What would you talk about or what would you ask them?

There are so many people I respect and whose personalities, faith and strength stand as examples for me to follow: the Dalai Lama, Edo Jaganjac (Bosnian doctor and writer who provided medical care to many, regardless of their ethnic origin, during the siege of Sarajevo), Gábor Sztehlo (Lutheran pastor in Budapest who saved hundreds of Jews during WWII), Jenő Setét (a prominent Roma civil rights activist in Hungary), John Lennon, John Lewis, Malala Yousafzai, Margit Schlachta (the first woman Member of the Hungarian National Assembly, social activist and nun), Martin Luther King, Jr., and Nóra L. Ritók (founder of the Real Pearl Foundation in Hungary). As I’m just at the outset of the Lantos Fellowship, I wish I could have had the chance to talk with Tom Lantos and hear his views about the current political and social state of Hungary. I would ask him how unity and trust can be established in society. How can one “work across the aisle” in deeply polarized times? Perhaps I will have the chance to have this conversation with Annette Lantos, which would be an honor.

Learn more about 2022 Lantos Fellow Omar Memišević.

Learn more about 2022 Lantos Fellow Enna Zone Đonlić.

Lantos Foundation to Honor Enes Kanter Freedom with 2022 Lantos Human Rights Prize

Media contact:

Chelsea Hedquist

press@lantosfoundation.org

 Lantos Foundation to Honor Enes Kanter Freedom with 2022 Lantos Human Rights Prize

September 6, 2022 – The Lantos Foundation for Human Rights & Justice today announced that it will award the 2022 Lantos Human Rights Prize, its highest human rights honor, to professional basketball player turned activist Enes Kanter Freedom. He will receive the award at a ceremony taking place on December 7, 2022, in Washington, DC. Mr. Kanter Freedom will join the distinguished ranks of Lantos Prize laureates, including human rights luminaries such as His Holiness the Dalai Lama and the late Professor Elie Wiesel, as well as real-life Hotel Rwanda hero Paul Rusesabagina and Hong Kong democracy activist Joshua Wong – both currently held as political prisoners – and several other notable human rights figures.

 “I am honored and humbled to receive this award in recognition of my human rights advocacy and to be in the company of so many great champions for human rights,” said Mr. Kanter Freedom. “Receiving the Lantos Human Rights Prize, awarded in memory of one of America’s great human rights leaders, motivates me to continue this advocacy, even if it comes with a personal cost. I feel grateful to have the opportunity to speak on behalf of those who are speechless and censored. I cannot – and will not – remain silent so long as I have a voice to raise in defense of those who suffer under brutal dictators or against those who are complicit in human rights violations.”  

Mr. Kanter Freedom was born in Switzerland in 1992 to Turkish parents. A talented basketball player, he has played for five NBA teams, including the Boston Celtics and the New York Knicks, and he represented Turkey as a member of its national team from 2008 to 2015. But since 2016, he has earned the greatest recognition – including praise from the human rights community and loathing from authoritarian regimes – due to his outspoken advocacy in defense of fundamental human rights and his pointed criticism of dictators. 

Mr. Kanter Freedom, who added the surname “Freedom” upon becoming an American citizen in 2021, has paid a high price for his activism. Turkey revoked his citizenship in 2017, and the Turkish government has targeted his friends and family – forcing them to disown Mr. Kanter Freedom and sever all ties with him. China retaliated against his outspoken advocacy by censoring the games of his then-NBA team, the Celtics. His professional basketball career has hit repeated roadblocks, as the NBA has shown itself more willing to bend to China’s will and spending power than to stand by an athlete who calls out the human rights abuses happening in that country.

“You can know the character of a man by his enemies, and Enes Kanter Freedom has some of the ‘best’ enemies a human rights champion could amass: Xi Jinping, Erdoğan and many other despots and dictators,” said Dr. Katrina Lantos Swett, President of the Lantos Foundation. “In an era where professional athletes live in fear of saying the wrong thing and losing coveted sponsor contracts or their spot on the roster, Mr. Kanter Freedom is the rare athlete who has used his platform and influence to stand up – and stand tall – for the causes he cares about, even when it puts him in the crosshairs of brutal regimes and cowardly sports franchises. He may only be at the beginning of his journey as a human rights champion, but he has already shown a degree of courage and conviction that few people possess. The Lantos Foundation is thrilled to honor him with the Lantos Prize, and we know he will continue to forge a path for human rights activists in the years to come.”

Katrina Lantos Swett, President of the Lantos Foundation, interviews Enes Kanter Freedom during the International Religious Freedom Summit in 2022. Credit: IRF Summit

Mr. Kanter Freedom has spoken out on a range of human rights issues, including: the Uyghur genocide in China; the persecution of Tibetan Buddhists; violations of the rule of law in Turkey, Russia and elsewhere; the need to actively combat antisemitism, Islamophobia and all forms of religious intolerance; the complicity of global corporations in labor rights and human rights abuses; the NBA’s shameful obeisance to the Chinese Communist Party; and more.

In one of his most memorable and prominent acts of defiance and advocacy, he commissioned artists to design custom-made basketball shoes with human rights messages like “Free Tibet”, “Free Uyghur”, and “No Beijing 2022”. He wore these shoes proudly during NBA games, prompting the Chinese government to censor them.

The 2022 Lantos Prize will be conferred at an invitation only ceremony in Washington, DC, which will also honor political prisoners for whom the Lantos Foundation advocates. More details about the ceremony will be forthcoming for members of the media. The Lantos Human Rights Prize has been awarded annually since 2009 (see a full list of laureates here). It is given to a human rights champion or champions each year to help draw attention to human rights violations around the world and to encourage governments to make human rights a priority on equal footing with other policy decisions. The Lantos Prize is named for the late Congressman Tom Lantos, who co-founded the Congressional Human Rights Caucus – which was reconstituted as the Tom Lantos Human Rights Commission following his passing.

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About the Lantos Foundation for Human Rights & Justice: The Lantos Foundation was established in 2008 to carry forward the legacy of Congressman Tom Lantos, the only Holocaust survivor ever elected to the U.S. Congress and a leading human rights champion. The Foundation works with a range of partners and often in cooperation with the U.S. Government on issues that span the globe. The Foundation’s key areas of focus include human rights issues related to religious freedom, rule of law, internet freedom and activist art. The Foundation also administers the Lantos Congressional Fellows Program, supports human rights advocates, activists and artists through its Front Line Fund grant program, and awards the annual Lantos Human Rights Prize to honor and bring attention to heroes of the human rights movement. Past recipients of the Prize include His Holiness the Dalai Lama, Professor Elie Wiesel, the real-life hero of Hotel Rwanda Paul Rusesabagina, Israeli President Shimon Peres, Iraqi Parliamentarian Vian Dakhil, Hong Kong Democracy activist Joshua Wong, Bill Browder, the driving force behind the global Magnitsky movement, founder of the Equal Justice Initiative Bryan Stevenson, among others.

Lantos Foundation Statement: Prioritize Human Rights During Secretary Blinken's Visit to Rwanda

Secretary of State Antony Blinken will visit Rwanda this week, and human rights should be the priority agenda item. No amount of economic progress or fabricated stability matters when the entire country lives under daily threat from a brutal dictator. The willful glossing over of Kagame’s descent into dictatorship has helped create a literal tyrant who jails or disappears opposition leaders and journalists, funds cross-border groups committing war crimes, and holds an international humanitarian hero illegally for nearly two years because he dared to speak the truth about the current state of Rwanda. 

It is high time to call out Kagame on his abuses and to enact real consequences if he doesn’t change. Secretary Blinken must deliver a forceful message: Rwanda must immediately get out of the Democratic Republic of Congo. Paul Rusesabagina must be released and allowed to return to the U.S. All political prisoners – jailed and under house arrest – should be released. Moreover, the U.S. Delegation should meet with journalists, civil society activists, and opposition leaders to signal their importance and relevance to the U.S./Rwanda relationship going forward. It is past time to confront the Rwandan dictatorship, and Secretary Blinken has a perfect opportunity to do so this week. We hope he takes it.

Three Afghan Women Honored as Human Rights Heroes at Lantos Human Rights Prize Ceremony

Media contact:

Chelsea Hedquist

press@lantosfoundation.org

May 18, 2021, Washington, DC – A trio of remarkable Afghan women were honored this week with the Lantos Human Rights Prize, bestowed annually by the Lantos Foundation for Human Rights & Justice. The three trailblazing women – Judge Fawzia Amini, Roya Mahboob and Khalida Popal – have each made a tremendous contribution to empowering the women of Afghanistan and furthering their basic human rights, working within their respective fields of law, tech and sports.

The 2021 Lantos Prize ceremony took place against the sobering backdrop of the Taliban’s ongoing assault on women’s rights and its steady march towards undoing all the progress achieved by Afghan women over the past two decades. Earlier this year, the Taliban reneged on its promise to reopen secondary schools for girls. Just this month, the Taliban-controlled government issued new restrictions on both women’s freedom of movement and dress, announcing that they will be expected to stay home and cover themselves head-to-toe, if and when they venture out.

Khalida Popal, co-founder and former captain of the Afghan National Women’s Football (Soccer) Team, spoke passionately at the Lantos Prize ceremony about the hope that Afghan women and girls felt during the last 20 years of increasing freedom and the dangers they now face following the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan in 2021. “When I started encouraging young girls to play sports, to raise their voices and stand against the ideology of the Taliban, I didn’t know that soon the show would be over,” she said. “Today the enemy is outside the door and women have no protection. What frustrates me is the naïve thinking of people, and especially leaders, who still believe that the Taliban changed. How on earth could they change? They kept fighting in the mountains, they never gave up. They learned English and they learned how to use the media to give a speech. But that is the only thing that has changed about the Taliban.”

Ms. Popal continued, “I will never give up being the voice for my sisters back in Afghanistan. But I want to urge you to remember that the problem of Afghanistan is not the problem of the Afghan people, it is everyone’s problem – a crisis of humanity. Let’s not forget the brave women of Afghanistan. Join us in being the voice for our sisters. Let them dream, let them see they are not alone and keep hope.”

The 2021 Lantos Prize recipients raise their arms in solidarity with each other and all Afghan women.

Fellow Prize recipient Roya Mahboob, Afghanistan’s first female tech CEO and co-founder of the Afghan Girls Robotics Team, lamented that much of Afghanistan’s talent has been forced to flee the country in the wake of the Taliban regaining power, saying, “These people are the human rights activists, the judges, intellectuals, educators, women’s rights activists and others who have had the highest hopes for their nation. They are the very soul of Afghanistan, and now they are in exile.” She continued, “Not even the collapse of a nation and mass evacuation of the population can stop an educated girl…Policy makers and leaders need to support girls’ and women’s education more than ever, so that we can dream of the day that the girls of Afghanistan and counterparts in countries across the region, who represent a vast and underutilized potential, will be able to achieve their dreams just like I did.”

Unlike the other two recipients who left Afghanistan several years ago, Judge Fawzia Amini, the former head of Afghanistan’s Violence Against Women Court, fled the country in 2021. She had ruled in hundreds of cases of violence against women – including a high-profile sexual abuse case brought by Khalida Popal against powerful leaders of the Afghan Football Federation. When the Taliban took power, they emptied the prisons of many of the violent criminals that Judge Amini had put behind bars and who quickly began threatening her life. Since escaping Afghanistan, Judge Amini has focused on advocating for the nearly 100 women judges who remain in danger. Upon accepting the Lantos Prize, she said, “At this memorable moment of my life, I want to remember the women of my country and their pain. They have lost all their fundamental and basic rights. I hope that the world will not leave us alone.”

The Lantos Human Rights Prize, named in memory of the late Congressman Tom Lantos, honors and brings attention to heroes of the human rights movement and high-profile public figures that use their platform to advocate for human rights. The three 2021 Lantos Human Rights Prize recipients join a distinguished group of laureates including His Holiness the Dalai Lama, Professor Elie Wiesel, the real-life hero of the film Hotel Rwanda Paul Rusesabagina, Israeli President Shimon Peres, former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, Iraqi Parliamentarian Vian Dakhil, Hong Kong Democracy activist Joshua Wong, and Bill Browder, the driving force behind the global Magnitsky movement, among others.

At the Lantos Prize ceremony, held in the Members Room of the Library of Congress on May 17, Dr. Katrina Lantos Swett, President of the Lantos Foundation, spoke of the three 2021 Lantos Prize awardees as “trailblazers who charged right through the doors of freedom and opportunity when they began to open. In courts of law, in the globally male-dominated world of tech entrepreneurship, and on the soccer pitch, these women were leaders and they inspired other Afghan women to dream big, to do hard things, to test the limits of their potential, and to defend their rights under the rule of law.”

She continued, “In getting to know these women, I have been struck by the fact that, despite the dire situation facing their country, none of them have lost hope. I marvel at this and am inspired by it, but looking at their lives and accomplishments, I think I may understand it. They have already faced down dragons of one kind or another. They have come through great difficulties and have not been overcome by them. And they know the wisdom of an old Afghan proverb: ‘There is a path to the top of the highest mountain.’ The challenge of restoring the rule of law, justice and freedom to Afghanistan is like a huge and intimidating mountain. But I believe it is women like the three we honor today who will lead the way.”

The Prize ceremony also featured a special video message from former President George W. Bush, who painted and profiled Roya Mahboob in his book Out of Many One: Portraits of America’s Immigrants. “I know the people of Afghanistan, and especially the women, are strong and determined, and Laura and I will always stand with them,” he said. Roushani Mansoor, Senior Advisor to the U.S. Special Envoy for Afghan Women, Girls and Human Rights, also delivered remarks at the event.

Prior to the ceremony, Khalida Popal had the opportunity to attend a home game of the Washington Spirit, DC’s professional women’s soccer team. The Spirit recognized her important contribution to women’s soccer and women’s empowerment through sport by asking her to do the game coin toss and presenting her with an honorary team jersey. She was also able to visit with Afghan families recently resettled in the United States, who had been invited to attend the game.

Full bios of the 2021 Lantos Prize recipients can be found here.

View the 2021 Lantos Prize video here.

Please contact Chelsea Hedquist if you would like to receive photos or video from the Prize ceremony.

*Note: The 2021 Lantos Prize event was postponed until 2022, due to Covid-related complications.

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About the Lantos Foundation for Human Rights & Justice: The Lantos Foundation was established in 2008 to carry forward the legacy of Congressman Tom Lantos, the only Holocaust survivor ever elected to the U.S. Congress and a leading human rights champion. The Foundation works with a range of partners and often in cooperation with the U.S. government on issues that span the globe. The Foundation’s key areas of focus include human rights issues related to religious freedom, rule of law, internet freedom and activism through art. The Foundation also administers the Lantos Congressional Fellows Program, supports human rights advocates, activists and artists through its Front Line Fund grant program, and awards the annual Lantos Human Rights Prize to honor and bring attention to heroes of the human rights movement.

Join the effort to raise funds to cover Raif Badawi’s $260,000 fine

Raif Badawi, the Saudi writer and activist who was recently released after 10 shockingly unjust years in prison is in need of our help once more. In addition to his sentence of 10 years and 1,000 lashes, Raif was also fined 1 million Saudi Riyal for “insulting Islam” – the equivalent of more than $260,000. Today, I write to encourage you to consider donating to the effort to help raise these funds, so the burden of this unwarranted and excessive punishment does not fall on Raif and his young family.

Raif should never have been imprisoned in the first place. His “crime” was nothing more than exercising the fundamental right to freedom of conscience and belief. For this, he has suffered a brutal public flogging. He spent 10 years behind bars and cruelly separated from his family. Now the travel ban prevents them from reuniting in Canada.

We can help ensure that Raif does not also face financial ruin due to the fine, in addition to all these other hardships.

The Lantos Foundation stands in solidarity with Raif Badawi and his family, and we have contributed to the effort to raise the funds needed to pay his fine. We hope you will consider joining us and supporting this courageous man. He has already paid a tremendous price for his commitment to freedom of conscience and belief. Let us make certain he does not have to pay even more.

If you are moved to contribute, you can do so here.

Lantos Foundation Announces Activist Artist Scholarship Winners

Media contact:
Chelsea Hedquist
chelsea@lantosfoundation.org
+1 603.229.2017

 Lantos Foundation Announces
Activist Artist Scholarship Winners

Three New Hampshire High School Seniors to Receive $10,000 in Scholarship Funds 

CONCORD (March 21, 2022) — The Lantos Foundation for Human Rights & Justice today announced that Gabrielle Gallant, a senior at Windham High School, has received the top award for the second annual Activist Artist Scholarship competition. Ms. Gallant’s winning essay recounts the story of her ballet teacher, who choreographed an original ballet piece titled A Child’s View of the Holocaust, which has been performed by the Londonderry Dance Academy for more than three decades. Ms. Gallant performed in the ballet piece, herself, for eight years. In her essay, she writes, “Performing this piece in high schools today fosters important conversation regarding tolerance, acceptance, and empathy. Open communication about the past and unjust treatment can help identify and prevent future injustice.”  

Ms. Gallant will receive a $5,000 scholarship to be paid to Marist College, which she will attend starting this fall at its Florence, Italy campus. She noted that, due to the pandemic, it has not been possible to perform A Child’s View of the Holocaust for the past two years. “Participating in the Activist Artist scholarship competition gave me a chance to remember and reflect on the importance of the message we delivered when we were able to perform,” she said. “It is a message that must be remembered, especially given today's current events.”  

The Foundation also awarded two runner-up prizes of $2,500 each to Kayla Schroyer of St. Paul’s School and Madelyn Allen of Bow High School. Ms. Schroyer received her award for an original piece of artwork titled “Obey, Work Hard, We Own You”, which draws attention to the unfairness, unhealthy conditions, and violations of rights that workers in the global labor market too often experience. Ms. Allen’s essay examined the impact of the photography of Dorothea Lange, whose “Censored images of Japanese American internment” documented some of the most egregious human rights abuses ever committed on American soil. Ms. Schroyer will attend Brigham Young University Idaho in the fall to study art education and theater. Ms. Allen will attend the University of New Hampshire. 

Dr. Katrina Lantos Swett, President of the Lantos Foundation, congratulated the three scholarship winners and said, “Art has a unique power to advocate for the human rights and dignity of all people – it can first move us and then motivate us to take action. For a second year, we received a range of impressive applications from high school seniors across the state who clearly understand this power. Some of the submissions were thoughtful and well-crafted essays about the work of activist artists, while others were remarkable pieces of original artwork. It was difficult to limit the awardees to only three, but we are grateful for our distinguished judges who devoted their time and energy to reviewing the submissions and selecting our winners. We are thrilled to award scholarships to three outstanding young scholars and to support their continuing education – and hopefully their continued interest in and commitment to human rights.” 

The Activist Artist Scholarship, first launched in October 2020, challenges applicants to examine the influence of a particular “Activist Artist” and show how that artist used their medium to influence, inform and inspire during their lifetime or beyond. Alternatively, applicants have the option to submit their own original piece of activist art. The scholarship competition is open to all New Hampshire high school seniors who intend to enroll in a 2- or 4-year college program at the conclusion of high school. Funding for the scholarships is generously provided through a grant from the Bank of New Hampshire.  

“Bank of New Hampshire is proud to support the Activist Artist Scholarship program,” said Cydney Shapleigh, EVP – Chief Wealth Management and Retail Banking Officer for Bank of New Hampshire. “Each year I am impressed by the talent of the applicants.  Their ability to bring awareness to human rights injustices through art is truly inspiring. We are honored to partner with such an important organization.”

The winners were selected by a panel of judges from the New Hampshire arts and education communities, and beyond, with a diverse range of experience and perspectives. This year’s judges included: Concord film-maker John Gfroerer, New Hampshire artist and gallery owner Pam Tarbell, Lantos Foundation Board of Trustees Treasurer Ambassador Richard Swett, Bank of New Hampshire’s Cydney Shapleigh, Lantos Foundation President Dr. Katrina Lantos Swett, Duke University student and former Lantos Foundation intern Daniel Wolf, and Betsy Gammons, a retired art teacher from the Concord School District and current part-time art instructor at the Currier Museum of Art.  

The Activist Artist Scholarship program falls within the Lantos Foundation’s “Global Citizenship” area of work. The Foundation recognizes the powerful, yet often overlooked, role that artists play in the human rights movement. Through the Activist Artist Scholarship and other programs, the Foundation seeks to encourage, support and elevate the work of artists who use their mediums to advocate for important causes. 

To learn more about the Foundation’s Activist Artist work and to stay updated on future awards, visit: https://www.lantosfoundation.org/activist-artist    

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About the Lantos Foundation for Human Rights & Justice: The Lantos Foundation was established in 2008 to carry forward the legacy of Congressman Tom Lantos, the only Holocaust survivor ever elected to the U.S. Congress and a leading human rights champion. Based in Concord, NH, the Foundation works with a range of partners and often in cooperation with the U.S. Government on issues that span the globe. The Foundation’s key areas of focus include human rights issues related to religious freedom, rule of law, internet freedom and activist art. The Foundation also administers the Lantos Congressional Fellows Program, supports human rights advocates, activists and artists through its Front Line Fund grant program, and awards the annual Lantos Human Rights Prize to honor and bring attention to heroes of the human rights movement. Past recipients of the Prize include His Holiness the Dalai Lama, Professor Elie Wiesel, Israeli President Shimon Peres, Iraqi Parliamentarian Vian Dakhil, “Hotel Rwanda” hero Paul Rusesabagina, and Hong Kong Democracy activist Joshua Wong, among others.

Raif Badawi has been released, but he is not yet truly free

Amid the devastation and horror of the past weeks, we received a faint glimmer of good news on Friday: The Saudi Government released writer and activist Raif Badawi after 10 long and shockingly unjust years in prison.

Even as we celebrate the news of Raif’s release, we must emphasize that he should never have been imprisoned in the first place. His “crime” was nothing more than exercising the fundamental right to freedom of conscience and belief. His case underscores the lack of religious freedom and freedom of expression in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the urgent need to expand these human rights in that nation and beyond. No one should ever face persecution, oppression, imprisonment, or threats to their very life for following the dictates of their conscience.

The Lantos Foundation, alongside many respected human rights organizations, has advocated for Raif’s release for several years – dating back to 2015, when he was publicly flogged in Jeddah Square as part of his sentence of 10 years and 1,000 lashes.

At that time, Lantos Foundation President Dr. Katrina Lantos Swett was proud to stand with a group of prominent religious freedom advocates calling on Saudi Arabia to cancel the 1,000-lash sentence and offering to take 100 lashes each in his stead. This led to a global campaign that prompted ordinary citizens from around the world to make a similar pledge on Raif’s behalf. We believe our collective advocacy and the international outcry over his treatment played a role in the Saudis’ decision not to continue this barbaric punishment on Raif and to eventually abolish flogging in 2020.

Now, years later, Raif has finally been freed…but he is not yet truly free. He remains subject to a 10-year travel ban, which prohibits him from joining his wife and children in Canada.

• We call upon Saudi Arabia to lift this ban immediately and allow Raif the opportunity to reunite with his family after a cruel 10-year separation.

• We urge the U.S. Government to use its influence to urge the Saudis to truly and fully restore the freedom they stole from him 10 long years ago.  

In our work to carry forward the noble banner of human rights, it can feel as though the scales will never tip towards justice. But every so often, like last Friday, a true human rights hero somehow manages to survive terror, trauma, and horrific abuse, and re-emerge from a prison cell to inspire us all anew with their courage and determination. Raif is one such hero, and he deserves the chance to build a new life with his family, far from the brutal regime that stole his liberty a decade ago.  

Now is the time for all of us to stand as guardians of Ukraine

For the first time in 80 years, the world stands as witness to a war of aggression in Europe. Russia’s brutal invasion of free, democratic Ukraine is the direct result of President Vladimir Putin’s twisted vision of restoring the Russian empire to its former glory – at any cost. Even as we witness Putin’s horrifying trampling of the international rule of law, we also see the courage, valor and determination of the Ukrainian people who have risen to defend their nation.

The inspiring acts of Ukraine’s leaders and everyday Ukrainians force us all to ask ourselves difficult questions: Would I be as brave as President Zelensky? Would I be as calm and stoic as the mothers sheltering their small children in the subways of Kyiv? Would I be as fearless as the soldiers of Snake Island? Would I be as willing to leave my old life behind as the teachers, grandmothers, engineers, and musicians who line up to receive weapons with which to protect their country and families?

The Foundation’s namesake, Congressman Tom Lantos, taught us that “the veneer of civilization is paper thin. We are its guardians, and we can never rest.” In this historic moment, when freedom and democracy themselves face a grave threat, each of us must recognize our role in standing for these values. Now is the time for all of us to raise our voices in protest against Putin’s aggression, to stand in solidarity with our courageous brothers and sisters in Ukraine, and to give of our time, energy, and resources to their cause.

With Tom’s example guiding us, the Lantos Foundation will be making donations to support the following organizations, and we hope you will consider joining us and making a donation of your own.

• Razom Emergency Response is organizing vital medical supplies and satellite phones to deliver to the front lines in Ukraine.

• World Central Kitchen has launched Chefs for Ukraine to provide hot, nourishing meals for Ukrainian refugees fleeing violence and for residents who remain in Ukraine. 

• United Hatzalah is working to protect Jewish communities in Ukraine and to provide medical and humanitarian supplies, as well as psychological support, for refugees.

• The Hungarian American Coalition is raising funds for partner organizations on the ground in Ukraine, with a particular focus on the 150,000 ethnic Hungarians in Western Ukraine.

Those of us living in peace and safety will not be asked to take up arms. We cannot physically stand alongside Ukrainians on the front lines. But our advocacy and our generosity can, nevertheless, strengthen Ukraine’s resistance and help the people of Ukraine halt Russia’s brutal advance. This is the moment when we must all stand as guardians of freedom, democracy, and a respect for basic human rights. Thank you for joining us in standing for Ukraine.

To Combat Holocaust Denial and Online Hate, Congress Should Set Its Sights on SF-based Internet Archive

On International Holocaust Remembrance Day, the Lantos Foundation and the Middle East Media Research Institute (MEMRI) call on Congress, particularly those Congressional leaders from the Bay Area, to take action to hold the San Francisco-based digital platform the Internet Archive accountable for its role in spreading antisemitic and racist hate online, as well as Holocaust denial — as Congress has done with other major tech companies. This move would be especially welcome following the adoption of a historic UN resolution condemning Holocaust denial and distortion and calling on countries to take action to combat it.

Lantos Foundation President Dr. Katrina Lantos Swett and Yigal Carmon, Founder and President of MEMRI, write in a new opinion piece, “On this day, as the world remembers the tragedy of the Holocaust, members of Congress, and especially those representing the Internet Archive’s home base in the Bay Area, must take up the important cause of holding this organization accountable for its content. This would certainly be a cause that would ignite both the fury and passion of the late Congressman Tom Lantos, were he still with us…We encourage the Bay Area Congressional delegation to follow Congressman Lantos’ example and show this kind of moral leadership: Ensure that the Internet Archive no longer escapes the scrutiny and accountability that have been applied to other tech companies. In a world that seems to careen ever closer to the edge of reality, we cannot allow the spread of Holocaust denial and online hate to go unchecked.”

Read the complete piece on Medium here.

The Lantos Foundation and MEMRI have written directly to Members of Congress, including the full California delegation and members of the House and Senate Task Forces on Combating Antisemitism, to urge them to take action to hold the Internet Archive accountable.

Screen shot from MEMRI video compilation of antisemitic content and Holocaust denial on the Internet Archive.

Lantos Foundation to Honor Three Remarkable Afghan Women with the 2021 Lantos Human Rights Prize

Media contact:
Chelsea Hedquist
+1 603.229.2017
chelsea@lantosfoundation.org

January 24, 2022 – The Lantos Foundation for Human Rights & Justice is thrilled to announce the three extraordinary Afghan women who will be jointly awarded the 2021 Lantos Human Rights Prize: Judge Fawzia Amini, Ms. Roya Mahboob, and Ms. Khalida Popal. Each of these women has worked fearlessly and tirelessly to promote and protect the rights of Afghan women, in their own unique way and from within their respective fields – including the legal profession, the tech business world, and the sports arena. The Lantos Foundation originally announced on December 10 that the 2021 Lantos Prize would honor the women of Afghanistan and today it is releasing the names of the Lantos Prize recipients.

“It was a challenging task to identify three women to recognize with our highest human rights honor, simply because there are so many impressive, courageous, and inspiring Afghan women who have made contributions to the field of human rights and women’s rights,” said Dr. Katrina Lantos Swett, President of the Lantos Foundation. “While many Afghan women would be worthy recipients of the Lantos Prize, we felt that Judge Amini, Ms. Mahboob, and Ms. Popal particularly embody the idea of a human rights champion and represent the diversity of ways that Afghan women have had an impact on human rights. We are so delighted to have the chance to honor these three women for their specific achievements – but we also feel that they will accept the Prize as representatives of their fellow Afghan women, many of whom now face the terrifying reality of a return to life under the Taliban’s oppressive rule.”

The 2021 Lantos Prize will be conferred at a ceremony in Washington, DC, which will be held later this spring. The ceremony will not only recognize the contributions of Afghan women to the struggle for human rights but will also serve as a platform to urge the United States government and other democratic nations to help ensure the safety, wellbeing and fundamental rights of all women in Afghanistan – and to offer support and aid for women who wish to flee the country. The ceremony will also take the opportunity to honor the generous and courageous rescuers who have, on their own initiative, helped Afghan women who are in danger to leave the country in the past several months and resettle elsewhere. More details about the 2021 Lantos Prize ceremony will be made available in the coming weeks.

“It is a great honor to receive the Lantos Prize,” said Judge Amini from the United Kingdom, where she has recently resettled after fleeing Afghanistan last autumn. “It is my wish that this honor will bring attention to the threats facing the women of Afghanistan, and particularly my fellow women judges. I was fortunate to be able to leave the country, but many of them have been unable to leave and they remain in grave danger. It is my duty now to advocate for them. I will continue to share this message: The Taliban have institutionalized discrimination against women. They have denied our fundamental rights. We cannot forget the women of Afghanistan.”

“I accept this award with a sense of deep pride and gratitude that my efforts to extend the fundamental right of education to all the women and girls of Afghanistan are being recognized,” said Ms. Mahboob from New York, where she resides. “The Lantos Prize will honor not only my work, but that of my dedicated team members, as well as the resilience, talent, and courage of the women and girls we work with across Afghanistan. Education is the way we push back against extremism and bring real change to the people of Afghanistan, and I am committed to continuing this work, no matter the challenges we face.”  

“I am grateful to receive the Lantos Prize in recognition of my work to empower women and girls through sport,” said Ms. Popal from Denmark, where she has lived since 2011. “I envision a day when women all around the world realize their own power and the strength that comes from standing together as sisters. I will continue working towards that day and towards a world in which no group, government, or patriarchal culture will be able dominate, oppress, and violate the human rights of one half of society.”

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Judge Fawzia Amini held numerous positions in the Afghan government for more than two decades, including as head of the Legal Department of the Ministry of Women Affairs. She later became a senior judge in the Supreme Court of Afghanistan and head of the Violence against Women Court, where she settled hundreds of cases against perpetrators of violence. During her time in government, Judge Amini was a member of the drafting committee of the Elimination of Violence against Women Law, the Family Law, and regulations for protection centers for women at risk. She worked closely with the Ministry of Justice to review laws from a gender perspective and ensure the protection of women’s rights, and she conducted hundreds of capacity building trainings on legal issues linked to women’s rights. She also played a role in Afghanistan’s accession to key international conventions on women and children, such as the UN Convention Against Torture, the Convention on the Rights of the Child, and others. When the Taliban regained control of the country in 2021, Judge Amini was forced into hiding after receiving numerous threats against her life. With assistance from the International Bar Association, she and nearly 100 women judges were able to escape from the country. Upon her arrival to the United Kingdom, Judge Amini immediately turned her attention and energy to advocating for the protection and rescue of the women judges who remain in Afghanistan.

Roya Mahboob is an entrepreneur and Afghanistan’s first female tech CEO, but her impact extends far beyond the sphere of business. Ms. Mahboob has used her success and tech expertise to help educate and empower Afghan women and girls, and she has been an outspoken advocate for their rights. She founded the Digital Citizen Fund, a nonprofit that aims to increase Afghan women’s technological and financial literacy and through which she also co-founded and supports the Afghan Girls Robotics Team. Ms. Mahboob has worked to build Internet-enabled classrooms across Afghanistan, has launched an online platform to strengthen the voices of Afghan women and journalists, and she regularly speaks and writes eloquently about the vital importance of education to building peaceful, just societies that respect human rights. Ms. Mahboob was named to TIME’s 2013 list of 100 Most Influential People. Following the Taliban’s takeover in 2021, Ms. Mahboob played a crucial role in helping members of the Afghan Girls Robotics Team escape from the country.

Khalida Popal began breaking down barriers and empowering women in Afghanistan in 2007, when she helped found the Afghan National Women’s Soccer Team. She served as the team captain, and she later became the first woman ever hired by the Afghanistan Football Federation. When it became clear that she was no longer safe in the country, she went into exile and has continued her advocacy for the rights of women and girls by establishing the Denmark-based Girl Power Organisation. Girl Power encourages women’s empowerment through sport, particularly for refugee and migrant girls. Ms. Popal has become an outspoken and deeply respected advocate for women’s rights in Afghanistan and beyond. A former defender on the soccer field, she is now a defender and champion of human rights around the globe. Amid the recent fall of Afghanistan to the Taliban, she worked tirelessly to help dozens of female soccer players from the senior and junior national teams escape and relocate. She has continued to support these girls and their families as they transition to their new countries of residence.

About the Lantos Foundation for Human Rights & Justice: The Lantos Foundation was established in 2008 to carry forward the legacy of Congressman Tom Lantos, the only Holocaust survivor ever elected to the U.S. Congress and a leading human rights champion. The Foundation works with a range of partners and often in cooperation with the U.S. Government on issues that span the globe. The Foundation’s key areas of focus include human rights issues related to religious freedom, rule of law, internet freedom and activist art. The Foundation also administers the Lantos Congressional Fellows Program, supports human rights advocates, activists and artists through its Front Line Fund grant program, and awards the annual Lantos Human Rights Prize to honor and bring attention to heroes of the human rights movement. Past recipients of the Prize include His Holiness the Dalai Lama, Professor Elie Wiesel, the real-life hero of Hotel Rwanda Paul Rusesabagina, Israeli President Shimon Peres, Iraqi Parliamentarian Vian Dakhil, Hong Kong Democracy activist Joshua Wong, Bill Browder, the driving force behind the global Magnitsky movement, founder of the Equal Justice Initiative Bryan Stevenson, among others.