Maktoob Media has won the 2023 Human Rights Religious Freedom Journalism Award in the category of Best Media Organization for covering human rights and religious freedom.
The jury selected Maktoob from a competitive shortlist of media organizations. Among the contenders were The Wire, The Newslaundry, and Khabar Lahariya.
The award was announced at the IAMC National Convention 2023 in Dallas, Texas, by the Indian American Muslim Council (IAMC), a Washington, D.C.-based advocacy group dedicated to safeguarding India’s pluralist and tolerant ethos.
Extraordinary and in-depth reporting covering the systematic targeting of religious minorities, the Hijab ban, and the weaponization of technology against Muslim women were among the stories that earned top honors at the award ceremony on Saturday, October 14.
“We believe this recognition is a testament to our work and commitment to tell stories that matter. We share the credit of this award with our staff, contributors and all the well-wishers. We dedicate this award to all journalists who speak truth to power no matter the consequences,” Maktoob said in a statement.
Maktoob’s regular contributor Meer Faisal won the title of Best Photo Story on Human Rights and Religious Freedom for his contributions featured in Maktoob and Al Jazeera English. The award committee recognized three photo stories published on Maktoob: “110-year-old madrasa and library set ablaze by Hindutva mob during Ram Navami rally in Bihar,” “Photos: Burnt by Hindutva mob and bulldozed by BJP govt; Muslim lives in Khargone,” and “Photos: Thousands of Muslim women pray during protests against eviction in Uttarakhand.”
Maktoob’s deputy editor, Shaheen Abdulla, jointly received the Best Text Reporting on Human Rights & Religious Freedom award for his report titled “No Country for Religious Converts,” which was published in The Wire.
Sneha Richhariya from IndiaSpend was also honored with the Best Text Reporting on Human Rights & Religious Freedom award.
The Best Video Story on Human Rights and Religious Freedom award was jointly awarded to Fatima Khan from The Quint and Naman Govil from Vice News.
The HRRF Young Journalist of the Year Award for 2023 was presented to Kashmiri journalist Aakash Hassan.
“We established these awards to shine a blazing spotlight on stories that often go unreported or underreported. In a year marked by relentless challenges, where media in India grapples with unprecedented pressures, HRRF’s 14-member international jury has selected winners who dare to speak truth to power. The resilience of these journalists and their unwavering dedication to the values of truth and justice resonate even louder in these turbulent times,” said Rasheed Ahmed, Executive Director of IAMC.
“Today, we celebrate the unwavering commitment of these exceptional journalists. Through their extraordinary dedication, they have illuminated the path to a more inclusive and harmonious world. These stories have not only won awards but have also won hearts, for they shed light on the issues that matter most to our shared humanity,” Ahmed added.
