CARIO: Egyptian journalist and blogger Sarah Abdelrahman has been awarded the Edberg Award, a Swedish award granted for the woman's courageous use of social media during the Egyptian revolution. “I am honored with such appreciation and recognition, and I feel that this award should go to everyone who is involved in the revolution. Our revolution has 8 million heroes,” said Abdelrahman, upon hearing the news of her nomination. The Edberg Foundation said that they were impressed by the young woman's work in calling for the overthrow of the Mubarak dictatorship. Abdelrahman became a voice for young people who wish to help in the process of building a new, democratic Egypt. She became well-known for her video blog on Egyptian social and political issues. “Sarah Abdelrahman is awarded for her courageous use of social media, giving young people a voice in support of democracy causes that are universal to all people regardless of age, gender and cultural affiliation – goals that are prerequisites for social justice, human rights and that create a platform to solve environmental problems,” said the foundation. “On other continents, young people have been inspired by the “Arab Spring” and how the use of social media has linked people and causes together,” says Bo Landin, President of the Edberg Foundation. “Unfortunately we have also seen that this struggle is not without victims, and young people too often have ended up in the crosshairs of weapons turned against them. We have seen it in Egypt and countries in the Middle East, but we have also seen it close to home in Scandinavia, when politically active young people in Norway were slaughtered. Our award to Ms. Abdelrahman should be seen in this light, and we are proud she represents the thousands of young people who, in spite of risks, are prepared to fight for their own future,” he continued. Abdelrahman will receive the award at a ceremony in Karlstad, Sweden on October 24th. BM
