European Parliament President President Martin Schulz Wednesday said that by awarding the Sakharov Prize to two Iranian activists, lawyer Nasrin Sotoudeh and film director Jafar Panahi, the European Parliament acknowledges their plight and their outstanding efforts in their incessant struggle for human dignity, fundamental freedoms and political change in Iran. He was speaking at at the Sakharov Prize award ceremony today in Strasbourg According to an EP statement, the Iranian activists, however, were not able to attend the ceremony in person because they are not allowed to leave Iran. In their acceptance speeches, delivered by their representatives, Nobel Peace Laureate Dr Shirin Ebadi and French film maker Costa-Gavras, the laureates expressed their gratitude for the prize as a symbol of encouragement. The Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought, named in honour of the Soviet physicist and political dissident Andrei Sakharov, has been awarded by the European Parliament every year since 1988 and to individuals and organisations fighting for human rights and democracy.