NSA whistleblower Edward Snowden has been nominated for a prestigious peace prize by Green MEPs.
Snowden leaked details of GCHQ’s routine monitoring of phone calls, emails and internet usage to The Guardian.
The leak led Downing Street to claim that The Guardian was jeopardising investigations into child sex rings and drugs gangs by revealing GCHQ’s methods.
Now, Snowden has been nominated for the Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought which is awarded by the European Parliament.
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Green MEPs said Snowden performed “an enormous service” to EU citizens by revealing extent of the mass surveillance.
Snowden could win a prize of almost £42,000 if he is announced victorious on 10 October.
Past winners have included Nelson Mandela.
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The winner will be invited to a special gala dinner in Strasbourg on November 20.
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