Dutch MEP wins Secularist of the Year

The National Secular Society has awarded the 2011 Irwin Prize for Secularist of the Year to Dutch MEP Sophie in ’t Veld.

Ms in ’t Veld won the prize for her work as chair of the European Parliamentary Platform for Secularism in Politics (EPPSP). She is an ardent advocate of the separation of religion from politics and campaigns on a number of issues where this is relevant.

She has supported campaigns aimed at improving the rights of women and gay people and recently protested to the President of the European Parliament, Jercy Buzek, about his invitation for the Pope to address a plenary session of the parliament.

Sophie argued that the parliament chamber was not the place for religious messages to be delivered, writing: “The plenary session in this assembly discusses and decides policies for all 500 million European citizens, regardless of their belief, faith or religion. It is wholly inappropriate for the plenary meetings to be used as a podium for religious messages.”

At present Sophie is campaigning to have the rights of all couples – including those in civil partnerships – recognised across borders of the EU.

Terry Sanderson, President of the National Secular Society, said: “We are proud and pleased to honour Sophie in ’t Veld in this way. It is good to have such an energetic and determined voice for secularism and justice for all in the European Parliament. The issue of religion and its place in a multi-cultural and multi-faith Europe is becoming urgent, and so Sophie’s work will become increasingly important. The NSS intends to do all it can to support her.”

Ms In ´t Veld said: “I feel very honoured to receive this prize. I consider it as encouragement to continue the battle for the complete separation between church and state in Europe.”

The prize was presented by the philosopher and author AC Grayling at a lunchtime event in London on Saturday 19^th March. Ms in ’t Veld declined the £5,000 cash element of the prize and this will now go on to fund another presentation next year.