Press release: Lawyer Aiman Umanova awarded the Stefanus Prize
Aiman Umarova defends those whom others dare not defend. She is convinced that an attempt was made on her life in a fabricated car accident. Now the brave lawyer from Kazakhstan is awarded the Stefanus Prize 2024.
Aiman Umanova from Kazakhstan is awarded the Stefanus Prize 2024
«I am overwhelmed to be honoured by someone in a country far away from my own,» Aiman Umarova says in a video interview from Almaty, the commercial capital of Kazakhstan.
The Stefanus Prize was established in 2005 by the Norwegian missions- and human rights organization Stefanus Alliance International. It is awarded to a person (or persons) who has made outstanding contribution to promote Freedom of religion and belief (FORB) in particular, and other Human rights. The prize consists of 10 000 Euros, and the award-ceremony will be held in Oslo 13 May.
Bishop Ingeborg Midttømme, who heads the prize-committee, says: «For many years, Aiman Umarova has given voice to the voiceless. She has defended the weakest. She has built up a substantial network that does the same. Umarova has faced resistance from the authorities, but has chosen to continue her important work, which also benefits women and children.»
The leading human rights lawyer in Kazakhstan has challenged the power apparatus in a number of cases. For example: She defends people who are unjustly persecuted under laws against extremism and terrorism. And she defends minorities from different religions against discrimination. She has defended people fleeing genocide in Xinjiang in China, like Sayragul Sauytbay who from her exile – through books, lectures and interviews – has contributed to documentation of the atrocities in the camps in Xinjiang.
Umarova defended «New Life Church» – where the leaders met fabricated accusations of manipulation and hypnosis for fundraising.
Umarova has led campaigns to spread information and raise public awareness about human rights violations in her country. Umarova has also started an NGO – Human Rights Lawyers – of human rights defenders. Among them are a group of professional lawyers who are willing to risk their lives by taking up cases no one else dares to take. Umarova is their mentor.
In May 2020, Umarova herself could have lost her life during a road trip. The brakes in her failed. The lawyer got out before the car was completely burned out. She herself published a video on YouTube .
«The brakes were cut. I told the police who I thought was behind it and who wanted me hurt. But the police did nothing,» Umarova said, adding:
«I will always risk my life for human rights. Many of my clients are imprisoned by judges who act like puppets in a theatre.»
«A true role model»
Secretary General Ed Brown in Stefanus Alliance International says in a comment:
«Aiman Umarova is a true role model. She uses her position as a lawyer to serve others. She is also not only a fearless defender of human rights in her own country. Umarova has also confronted China when her own authorities did not dare to protect people who have fled the atrocities in Xinjiang. I look forward to meeting her and greeting her during the award-ceremony.»
A day for truth
The Stefanus Prize 2024 is announced in connection with the International Day for the Right to the Truth about Gross Human Rights Violations and for the Dignity of the Victims. The day was declared by the UN General Assembly in 2010. The day is observed each Year on 24 March. This annual observance pay tribute to the memory of Catholic Archbishop Oscar Arnulfo Romero who was murdered in his own church in San Salvador, the capital of El Salvador, 24 March 1980.
The Stefanus Prize
• Stefanus Alliance International, established 1967, is a Norwegian mission- and human rights organization with a special focus on Freedom of Religion or Belief. It has name of the first Christian martyr.
• The Stefanus Prize was established in 2005. It is awarded every second year.
• The winners are selected by an independent committee elected by the board of Stefanus Alliance International.
• The first receiver of the Stefanus Prize was the Coptic Orthodox bishop Thomas from Egypt.
• In 2016 the prize was awarded the Turkish academics Aykan Erdemir and Mine Yildirim.
• In 2018 the Stefanus Prize was awarded journalist Saad Salloum and father Ameer Jaje from Iraq.
• In 2020 the prize was awarded the Vietnamese lawyer Nguyen Bac Truyen who at that time was sentenced to 11 Years in prison. He was released in 2023.
• In 2022 the prize was awarded the Pakistan filmmaker Wagma Feroz, working from Peshawar.