A message from Ahmed Manai, Tunisian human rights defender

This dignified soul, who has placed human dignity above all else, has defended human rights for decades in Algeria, in North-Africa and beyond, has been fighting for the rights of all men, without distinction - with immense courage, sheer constancy, exemplary honesty and undeniable expertise. All of this enacted with the utmost modesty.

For those, including myself, who have been profoundly marked by the exemplary work of this man over the past two decades, Abdennour Ali-Yahia is the man to whom we devote an unwavering loyalty. We can bet that his vision of human dignity as "the keystone of society" will lead the path for future generations in the struggles to come.

All human rights activists, big and small, but above all, all victims of human rights violations of any kind, who have suffered throughout the 1990s from ostracism, exclusion and bigotry from mainstays of human rights, are grateful to Abdennour Ali-Yahia, but also to the late Mahmoud Khalili and all others who have used their prestige and their moral authority to expose and break the contention of the eradicators.

Finally, a heartfelt tribute to the Alkarama Award 2009 Laureate, a moment in memory of our brother and friend Mahmoud Khalili, who died nearly seven years ago, and my most sincere thanks to all those at Alkarama and especially to my friends Abbas Aroua and Rashid Mesli, for thinking of inviting me to this ceremony which I was regretfully unable to attend for health reasons.

With my utmost affection,
Ahmed Mannai
Tunis, 11 December 2009