Norway MP nominates WikiLeaks for Nobel Peace Prize

A Norwegian politician said on Thursday he has nominated WikiLeaks for a Nobel Peace Prize, citing the website's contribution to "democracy and freedom of speech" worldwide.

Nominations for the Peace Prize closed on Tuesday, and the prize committee is ready to begin its deliberation before actually awarding the prize in October.

Any lawmaker, academic or award recipient around the world can nominate anyone for the prize, according to the prize's website.

Stortinget parliamentarian Snorre Valen (26) of Norway's Socialist Left Party said he nominated WikiLeaks because it has helped "redraw the map of information freedom". The nomination comes just days before founder Julian Assange is to face an extradition hearing in London over allegations of sexual assault in Sweden.

"Liu Xiabao was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize last year for his struggle for human rights, democracy and freedom of speech in China," Valen wrote on his blog. "Likewise, WikiLeaks have contributed to the struggle for those very values globally, by exposing (among many other things) corruption, war crimes and torture." 

WikiLeaks is a nonprofit website that publishes documents alleging corporate and government misconduct. Critics have accused it of endangering national security while defenders have said it protects whistle-blowers. The site has published numerous secret documents, including on the Iraq and Afghan war.