Lochaber group champion Nobel nomination for visiting Palestinian professor
A Palestinian professor who recently visited Lochaber on a lecture tour organised by the Highland Palestine group has been nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize.
Professor Mazin Qumsiyeh visited Kilmallie Community Centre in November and spoke about the parallels between medical diagnosis and the political history of the troubled Middle East region as part of a UK and Ireland speaking tour entitled Land - Nature - Justice.
Professor Qumsiyeh is the founder of the Palestine Institute for Biodiversity and Sustainability at Bethlehem University.
He has previously been on the faculties of Tennessee, Duke and Yale universities.
Hosted by local group Highland – Palestine, he spoke in Evanton, Ullapool, Inverness, Fort William and as part of an online event organised from Boat of Garten.
He also visited a number of Highland environmental conservation, regeneration and sustainability projects.
Dr David Sedqwick of Lochaber Supports Palestine (LSP) said: "We, here in Lochaber, had such a privilege to meet and hear Professor Mazin Qumsiyeh on his recent lecture tour.
"He has such a depth of knowledge on the effects of Israeli occupation on the environment and lives of the Palestinians.
"He is an articulate supporter of non-violent protest against the occupation. He is a very appropriate nominee for the Nobel Peace prize."
One of the founders of LSP, Marie Nolan, added: "Lochaber Supports Palestine had the profound experience of hosting a talk with Mazin in November last year.
"The news that he is being nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize is amazing. It’s such an honour for him and a true recognition of the impact he has had in Palestine.
"Mazin’s work is inspiring and this nomination is a testament to the positive change he is creating."
A Highland - Palestine spokesperson said: "We were deeply honoured and privileged to welcome Mazin to the Highlands.
"He’s an inspiring speaker whose message of community empowerment offers hope in these dark times for a future of peace and environmental recovery.
"We can’t think of anyone who deserves the Nobel Peace Prize more than Mazin."
Professor Qumsiyeh has been nominated for the award by Nobel Peace Laureate Mairead Corrigan Maguire, who co-founded the Community of Peace People with Betty Williams and Ciaran McKeown to promote a peaceful resolution to the Troubles in Northern Ireland.
Professor Mazin Qumsiyeh is a life scientist, teacher and activist for peace, non-violence and the sustainability of human and natural communities over the past 50 years.
He was born in Beit Sahour, the Shepherds’ field on the outskirts of Bethlehem. He got his formal education in Jordan and the USA in areas of biology and medical genetics.
The Nobel Peace Prize is awarded annually, along with Nobel Prizes in physics, chemistry, physiology or medicine, literature and economic sciences. The Norwegian Nobel Committee decides who receives the award and the laureate is announced during the first full week of October.
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