A Norwegian lawmaker has nominated the people of Hong Kong for a Nobel Peace Prize.

Guri Melby. Photo: Guri Melby.

“I have nominated the people of Hong Kong, who risk their lives and security every day to stand up for freedom of speech and basic democracy, to the Nobel Peace Prize for 2020 I hope this will be further encouragement to the movement,” Guri Melby, a politician for Norway’s Liberal Party, said on Twitter.

“The importance of what they are doing extends far beyond Hong Kong, both in the region and in the rest of the world,” she told newspaper Aftenposten.

City-wide protests against a soon-to-be-scrapped extradition bill have entered their 19th week, as wider anger over police misconduct and demands for democracy engulf the movement.

Photo: May James/HKFP.

Melby said she wanted to encourage the movement and urge Hongkongers to continue the fight in a non-violent manner: “I specify that the nomination goes to the movement that is making these demonstrations happen. I was in Hong Kong last week, and people I spoke to there really emphasized that this is a social movement,” she told the newspaper.

Melby was barred from entering the Norwegian parliament in May after donning a t-shirt featuring the Chinese characters for “freedom” during a visit to the country by Chinese Politburo Standing Committee member Li Zhanshu.

Last year, twelve United States lawmakers nominated activists Joshua Wong, Nathan Law, Alex Chow and the Umbrella Movement for the Nobel Peace Prize.

Additional Reporting: Iris Li.

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