Honouring Abdullah al-Khateeb, awarded the Swedish government's prize for human rights

Swedish Minister for Foreign Affairs Margot Wallström meets with Salim Salamah, director for the Palestinian League for Human Rights-Syria to discuss the crucial need for protection of civilians in Syria.

Following the prize ceremony of the Per Anger prize, where Abdullah al-Khateeb, co-founder of the PLHR was awarded for his brave struggle for human rights in Syria, Salim Salamah, director for the PLHR met in Stockholm with Swedish Minister for Foreign Affairs Margot Wallström.

Among issues discussed were the role of Sweden in the Security council in the matter of Syria, the negative impact of forced re-location of civilians and threats civil society and human rights activist are faced with.

The prize winner, Abdullah al-Khateeb was not able to be present at the meeting as he is living in hiding in Syria. Due to his work he is threatened both by the Syrian regime and ISIS. In July Abdullah a-Khateeb survived an attempted assassination.

– First, he has to take care of his health. Because he needs to be healthy and strong in this very difficult situation. We need all the good forces to end the war in Syria and to find a peaceful way into the future. We admire him and wish him all the best, Margot Wallström said in a message to Abdullah.

For more information, contact press officer Karin Schöllin via karin.schollin@smallworld.se or on +46 (0) 730 44 98 53. You can find more information about the Per Anger prize at http://www.levandehistoria.se/english/about-us/anger-prize

FACT BOX The Per Anger prize is awarded annually to a person who has made significant efforts to promote democracy and humanitarian intervention. The prize was established in 2004 by the Swedish government in the memory of Swedish diplomat Per Anger, who worked in Budapest during the Second World War to save as many Jews as possible from persecution and execution.

Nine internationally recognised voluntary organisations with wide contact networks have been involved in the nomination and selection of this year's prizewinner: Amnesty, Afrikagrupperna, Diakonia, Civil Rights Defenders, UNA Sweden, the International Commission of Jurists Swedish Section, Reporters without Borders, the Swedish Church and Svenska Pen.

Palestinian League for Human Rights-Syria (PLHR) is a network that monitors and documents the situation of Palestinian refugees in Syria with the aim of promoting the rights of stateless Palestinians. Salim Salamah was recently appointed by UN Secretary-General as a member of the Advisory Group of Experts for the Progress Study on Youth, Peace and Security as mandated by UNSC resolution 2250.