Edward Snowden nominated for human rights prize

The United States wants to try fugitive intelligence analyst Edward Snowden for espionage, but Europe might find reason to honor him.

The European Parliament has nominated Snowden, as well as six others, for the Sakharov Prize — an award bestowed to individuals who have championed the causes of human rights and freedom of thought. Snowden was nominated by the Parliament’s Greens group for exposing infringements of civil liberties and protecting European citizens.

“Edward Snowden has risked his freedom to help us protect ours and he deserves to be honored,” Rebecca Harms and Dany Cohn-Bendit, the leaders of Greens, said in a recent statement.

A list of finalists for the Sakharov Prize will be voted upon by the European Parliament on Sept. 30, with the winner announced Oct. 10.