A prominent American civil rights organization has demanded that the 2025 Nobel Peace Prize recipient, Venezuelan opposition leader Maria Corina Machado, renounce her affiliations with racism, fascism, and far-right ideologies. The Council on American-Islamic Relations (Cair) expressed strong disapproval of the Nobel Prize committee’s decision, citing Machado’s connections to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s Likud Party and her participation in far-right European gatherings. Cair highlighted her appearance at the Patriots of Europe conference in Madrid, where she shared the stage with figures like Geert Wilders and Marine Le Pen, who advocated for a new ‘Reconquista,’ a term evoking the historical expulsion of Muslims and Jews from Spain. The group urged the Nobel committee to reconsider its choice, arguing that it tarnishes the award’s legacy. Machado, who has openly supported Netanyahu and pledged to relocate Venezuela’s embassy to Jerusalem if elected, dedicated her prize to former U.S. President Donald Trump and the Venezuelan people, praising Trump’s backing of her cause. Trump has previously deployed warships near Venezuela to combat drug cartels. Cair emphasized that the Nobel Peace Prize should honor individuals who champion justice universally, not those who endorse divisive and exclusionary ideologies.
Cair calls on Nobel Prize winner to renounce support for far-right, racist and fascist parties
