STRASBOURG: Five Arab Spring activists won Europe's prestigious Sakharov rights prize on Thursday, starting with the Tunisian fruit seller whose self-immolation sparked the revolutions that toppled dictators.

The European parliament decided to award the prize to the market trader, Mohamed Bouazizi, along with Egyptian blogger Asmaa Mahfouz, former Libyan prisoner Ahmed al-Zubair Ahmed al-Sanusi, and two Syrians struggling for change in their countries, lawyer Razan Zeitouneh and cartoonist Ali Farzat.

“These individuals contributed to historic changes in the Arab world,” said European parliament president Jerzy Buzek.

“This award reaffirms parliament's solidarity and firm support for their struggle for freedom, democracy and the end of authoritarian regimes,” he said, adding that it was “a symbol for all those working for dignity, democracy and fundamental rights in the Arab world and beyond.”

Bouazizi set himself on fire on Dec 17 in the city of Sidi Bouzid, and died two weeks later — an act that symbolised the frustrations of Tunisians and triggered the revolt that ousted veteran leader Zine el Abidine Ben Ali.—AFP