Hassan Magulumali
Tanzanian opposition leader Tundu Lissu has been named one of three finalists for the European Parliament’s 2026 Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought, placing Tanzania among the countries represented in one of Europe’s most prominent human rights awards.
Lissu, who has been detained since April 2025 and is facing treason charges in Tanzania, was shortlisted alongside the International Criminal Court (ICC) and its staff, as well as Iranian twin sisters Taraneh and Romina Rahimi, who have faced severe sentences following anti-government protests.
The European Parliament announced the three finalists on October 19, 2026, following votes by its committees responsible for foreign affairs and development. The winner is expected to be announced on October 22, ahead of the official award ceremony scheduled for December 16 in Strasbourg, France.
Lissu, a lawyer and prominent opposition politician who has led Tanzania’s opposition party Chadema, was nominated by the European People’s Party and the European Conservatives and Reformists political groups. His nomination recognises his advocacy for democratic reforms, political freedoms and accountability.
His case has attracted international attention since his arrest in April 2025 following a political rally. He is facing treason charges, an offence that carries the death penalty under Tanzanian law. His nomination comes amid wider international debate over political participation, freedom of expression and the protection of opposition figures.
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The Sakharov Prize, established in 1988 and named after Soviet physicist and dissident Andrei Sakharov, honours individuals and organisations that make outstanding contributions to human rights and fundamental freedoms. It is one of the European Union’s highest-profile human rights awards and carries a financial prize of €50,000.
The second finalist is the International Criminal Court and its staff, who have faced growing pressure from the United States. Based in The Hague, Netherlands, the court investigates and prosecutes individuals accused of genocide, crimes against humanity, war crimes and the crime of aggression within its jurisdiction.
The court’s nomination comes amid disputes over international accountability and sanctions imposed by the administration of US President Donald Trump against ICC officials. Supporters of the court argue that independent international justice is essential to ensuring that serious crimes do not go unpunished, regardless of the status or power of those accused.
The third finalists, Iranian twin sisters Taraneh and Romina Rahimi, were nominated in recognition of people facing persecution by Iran’s authorities. Reports indicate that the sisters received severe sentences, including a death sentence for one and a 25-year prison term for the other, following their involvement in anti-government protests in Isfahan in January 2026. Their cases have raised concerns among human rights advocates about the treatment of protesters and the fairness of judicial proceedings in Iran.
The three finalists were selected from a wider list of six original candidates, which also included El Salvador’s President Nayib Bukele, Palestinian doctor Hussam Abu Safiya and the Israeli civil society organisation Standing Together.
The final decision rests with the European Parliament’s Conference of Presidents, comprising the Parliament’s president and the leaders of its political groups. The winner will be announced on October 22, while the formal award ceremony will take place in Strasbourg in December.
Lissu’s selection places Tanzania’s political and human rights situation in the spotlight of a major European parliamentary award. However, being named a finalist does not mean he has won the prize; the final decision remains with the European Parliament.
The outcome will determine which of the three finalists receives the 2026 Sakharov Prize, as international attention continues to focus on democratic freedoms, political rights and the protection of individuals and institutions facing pressure for their work.
