Pope Nobel nominee
STAVANGER: An Islamic State rape victim, Pope Francis and the Afghan women’s cycling team are among the known candidates for the 2016 Nobel Peace Prize as the nomination window was set to close on Monday. The five-member Norwegian Nobel Committee typically receives more than 200 nominations for the prestigious prize, and keeps candidates secret for 50 years. Panel members can make their own nominations during a meeting on February 29. A Norwegian lawmaker nominated Nadia Murad, a Yazidi who escaped sexual slavery and has become a spokeswoman for those abused by Islamic State ultras, while Nobel Laureate Desmond Tutu is backing Pope Francis for his contributions to sustainable development. The Afghan women’s cycling team has been nominated by 118 Italian lawmakers to promote “the most democratic means of transportation for all mankind.”
