Germany: Granting Tolerance Prize to Shirin Abadi

Shirin Abadi, a lawyer and an Iranian human rights activist, was awarded with the 2008 Tolerance Prize by the Protestant Academy of Tutzing. The prize is granted to people known for their peaceful efforts within political regimes, cultures and religions.

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The Protestant Academy of Tutzing in Germany have granted the Tolerance Prize on a semi-annual basis since 2000. This year, the prize was granted to Ms. Abadi, the 2003 Nobel Peace Prize laureate. The Protestant Academy of Tutzing is a learning and research center affiliated with the Protestant church in the Bavaria region of Germany. The Academy is known for bringing various individuals and groups together who are willing to discuss important social issues. The Tolerance Prize awarded by the Protestant Academy of Tutzing is a cash prize amounting to 10,000 Euros and is given to people whose efforts are centered on developing understanding among different political regimes, cultures and religions. The prize is given to important religious or political leaders and it is also given to artists, thinkers or ordinary citizens whose efforts or personalities are dedicated to serving their communities.

So far, Roman Herzog, the ex-president of Germany, Daniel Barenboim, the Argentine and Israeli pianist and conductor, Henning Mankell, the Swedish director and writer and Karim Aga Khan, the leader of the Ismailis branch, have received the prize.