The Danish Free Press Society has awarded its newly-instituted Free Press Prize to the Norwegian-Pakistani comedienne and satirist Shabana Rehman and IHEU President Roy Brown.
Announcing the awards, the society said, “As President of the International Humanist and Ethical Union, which enjoys NGO status at the UN Human Rights Commission, Roy Brown has been a tireless advocate of free speech as part and parcel of human rights. He has thus made an invaluable contribution to the defence of the open society and freedom of expression.
“A couple of years ago Shabana Rehman created a stir by her courageous criticism of fanatical imams. Recently her irreverent attacks on religious strongmen and oppressive ideologies have caused a Danish theatre to cancel her planned show in Copenhagen. By awarding her with our prize, the Free Press Society wishes to signal that there is another Denmark devoted to free speech.”
The presentation of the awards will take place at a later date.