Edward Snowden won the majority of Guardian readers’ votes in our online poll, with Malala Yousafzai, joint official winner , in second place

Edward Snowden should have won the 2014 Nobel peace prize, according to Guardian readers who put the NSA whistleblower ahead of official winners Malala Yousafzai and Kailash Satyarthi.



Snowden, who leaked documents revealing global surveillance by the US and UK to the Guardian and others last year, received 47% of reader votes, with educational campaigner Malala gaining 36% and Snowden’s fellow American whistleblower Chelsea Manning at 15%.



Guardian reader Norbert Schuff explained the reasoning behind his vote:

Snowden is the only one on this list who deserves the peace price. His revelations of the broad government surveillance of digital communications not only had the most global impact but will also shape actions for freedom of expression and right of privacy for years to come.

Readers’ hopes were dashed when the Norwegian Nobel Committee awarded the prestigious and often controversial prize to Malala and Satyarthi for “their struggle against the suppression of children and young people and for the right of all children to education”.

The committee prides itself on its independence, but, headed by Norway’s former prime minister Thorbjørn Jagland and chosen by Norway’s parliament, its members are keenly aware of the political ramifications of their decisions.

“Giving it to Snowden would run against all political instincts. He is, after all, considered a traitor to one of Norway’s closest allies,” Kristian Harpviken, director at the Peace Research Institute in Oslo, told the Christian Science Monitor.

Snowden “is the only person who deserves the award. He has risked everything to bring sanity to the world. However, I very much doubt that he will get it. Norwegians are too scared of the wrath of US if they grant this honor to him,” wrote Guardian reader Citzenoftheworld.

At 17 Malala has become the youngest ever winner of the prize.

In a statement, the Nobel committee said: “Despite her youth, Malala Yousafzai has already fought for several years for the right of girls to education, and has shown by example that children and young people, too, can contribute to improving their own situations.

“This she has done under the most dangerous circumstances. Through her heroic struggle she has become a leading spokesperson for girls’ rights to education.”

Guardian reader spacetimeloops explained their reason for not voting for Malala: “Malala is a brave lucky girl worthy of note; however she must stand on another pedestal; her ‘work’ is not over.”

Satyarthi founded Bachpan Bachao Andolan - or the Save the Childhood Movement - in 1980, and dedicated his prize to children in slavery.

“It’s an honour to all those children who are still suffering in slavery, bonded labour and trafficking ... It’s an honour to all my fellow Indians. I am thankful to all those who have been supporting my striving for more than the last 30 years” he told CNN-IBN.

What do you think? Are Malala Yousafzai and Kailash Satyarthi deserving of the prize? Share your thoughts in the thread

