Freedom of thought award

The winner of the European Parliament's 2005 Sakharov prize for freedom of thought will be announced on Thursday, a statement by the European Parliament office in Malta said.

The prize is awarded annually to the person or group who are judged to have made a "particular achievement" in the promotion and protection of freedom of thought.

Named after a former Soviet dissident, it recognises achievement in the field of human rights, protecting minorities, defence of international cooperation or the development of democracy and the rule of law. The winner will receive €50,000 in prize money.

The 2005 finalists are:

Ladies In White (Damas De Blanco) of Cuba: This group of women have been protesting peacefully every Sunday since 2004 against the continued detention of their husbands and sons who are political dissidents in Cuba. They wear white as a symbol of peace and the innocence of those imprisoned.

Hauwa Ibrahim: Of humble birth, she has risen to be a leading Nigerian human rights lawyer. She represents women who face being stoned to death for adultery and young people facing amputation for theft under Islamic Sharia law.

Reporters Without Frontiers: This international organisation campaigns for press freedom throughout the world. It also champions the protection of journalists and other media professionals from censorship or harassment.