15.10.2014

Freedom of Expression Tribute 2012 to Louiza Louhibi

Press Release - 9 February 2012

The Fritt Ord Foundation, Oslo, has resolved to award the Freedom of Expression Tribute to Louiza Louhibi. The Board's grounds: 

Louiza Louhibi is being awarded the Freedom of Expression Foundation Tribute for her courage in the debate about sexualised violence against women and for actively opposing extreme attitudes that are based on religious and political prejudices.

The Tribute will be awarded by Fritt Ord Board Member Frank Rossavik at Fritt Ord's premises at Uranienborgveien 2, Oslo, at 3 p.m. on Tuesday, 14 February 2012. 

Louiza Louhibi was violently attacked and raped in Oslo in 2008. The perpetrator also raped three other women. Han was sentenced to seven years of preventive detention, based, among other things, on Louhibi's testimony.

Louhibi entered the public debate on rape last autumn: "I became a rape victim in 2008. But you can't spend your whole life being a victim. Take action against rape now!" she wrote on Twitter. She followed up by giving several newspaper interviews and making TV appearances.

Her openness has made Louihibi the brunt of persecution, not least on Facebook. After an appearance on a debate programme on NRK1 (Norwegian public broadcasting) in January this year, she had to be driven home by plainclothes police officers. Now she carries a personal alarm for victims of violence when she is out and about.

Instead of living in fear, Louiza Louhibi has redoubled her fight against what, in an interview with NRK, she called "a small but growing group of young Muslim men who adhere to an extreme interpretation of Islam". Among other things, she has posted a Facebook page against extremism on the Internet. She also recently warned the Norwegian Police Security Service (PST) about a threat video against Norwegian State institutions.

Louiza Louhibi (21) lives in Oslo. Her parents have a French-Algerian background. She is politically active in the Norwegian Labour Party's Gender Equality Committee and the Blindern Labour Party Youth.

The Fritt Ord Foundation is a public-utility private foundation that aspires to promote freedom of expression and public debate.

The Freedom of Expression Foundation Tribute acknowledges remarkable efforts to promote free speech, often in connection with current events. The Tribute is accompanied by a cash award of NOK 100 000.

Please note: remember to correctly label your application in the title section of the application form.

See this list for information about the different grant schemes and instuctions for how your application must be labelled.

The virus epidemic has put Norway’s cultural life and public discourse in an extremely difficult situation. In response, the Fritt Ord Foundation will be making an extraordinary contribution to projects that can safeguard the spaces for public discourse, develop new arenas for public discourse and help promote dynamic, vital public discourse.

Første tildelinger klare fra Fritt Ords krisebevilgninger
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