Alt News Co-Founder Mohammed Zubair wins 2023 Freedom of Expression award in Journalism
Ahmedabad: Fact-Checking Wizard and Co-Founder of the fact checking website Alt-News Mohammed Zubair has been honoured with the 2023 Freedom of Expression award in Journalism by Index on Censorship, a non-profit organisation headquartered in London.
Index on Censorship, a non-governmental organisation advocating for the freedom of expression in its ‘X’ post, recognized Zubair's efforts against fake news and disinformation in India, even after facing attacks, slander and jail. “We all share in his (Zubair’s) campaign for transparent and accurate news,” the post further read.
The annual Freedom of Expression Awards are presented in four categories including arts, campaigning, journalism and trustee, to individuals who have made a “significant impact in the fight against censorship worldwide.” The awardees are honored at a celebration in London and also receive financial aid.
The organisation produces a quarterly magazine of the same name from London, In addition also publishes work by censored writers and artists, promotes debate, and monitors threats to free speech.
Upon receiving the award, Zubair expressed that it will “serve as a flicker of hope” for his young colleagues.
In a video posted by the Organisation, Zubair remarked that, “It’s both an honor and privilege to receive the [Index on Censorship] Freedom of Expression [award], especially during the period when fake news and disinformation has emerged as a Frankenstein monster, in my country, India.”
The fact-checker further expressed gratitude to those who supported him while he faced attacks, slanders and was jailed for doing his job.
Index on Censorship had previously, while announcing the nominees in September,highlighted Zubair’s work and his arrest in June last year. It also commended both Zubair’s and the news outlet’s efforts to report on hate speeches, actions of vigilante groups and inter-communal violence in India.
Alongside Zubair, other nominees in the category included Franco-Afghan journalist Mortaza Behboudi and Bilan Media, Somalia’s first women-only media organisation.
The fact-checker spent 24 days in jail last year before being granted bail by the apex court. Currently he is facing six cases in Uttar Pradesh and one in Delhi on charges of allegedly promoting enmity between groups and hurting religious sentiments.
Our journalism winner is Mohammad Zubair, one of the founding members of @AltNews. His fight against fake news and disinformation in #India has led to him facing attacks, slander and even jail.
— Index on Censorship (@IndexCensorship) October 19, 2023
We all share in his campaign for transparent and accurate news. #IndexAwards23 pic.twitter.com/l9qN7Kgwb0
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Real Madrid fines Valverde and Tchouaméni half a million euros each for altercation
Barcelona (AP): Real Madrid slapped players Federico Valverde and Aurélien Tchouaméni with half-a-million-euro ($588,000) fines on Friday for their altercation during practice.
The massive fines came a day after the midfielders tussled when the team trained. Valverde said in a post on social media on Thursday that no punches were thrown. But Valverde knocked his head on a table and he suffered a small cut that required a brief hospital visit.
On social media, Valverde initially called it a “meaningless fight” with a teammate and said “everything has been blown out of proportion."
His employers, however, considered it a significant enough breach of team discipline to nail both Valverde and Tchouaméni with fines that bite even the bank account of a top soccer player. The half-a-million euro penalties reflect the reputational damage the club was enduring in a chaotic end to a disappointing season.
In a statement, the 15-time European champion said its disciplinary action was concluded after both players expressed to the club “their complete remorse for what happened and apologized to one another.”
Madrid added they also apologized to their teammates, the coaching staff and club supporters, as well as showing their willingness to accept whatever disciplinary action the club deemed “opportune.”
Tchouaméni was back training with Madrid on Friday, two days before they play at Barcelona in a clasico. Madrid has to win otherwise Barcelona will be crowned La Liga champion.
After being notified of the fine, he posted a public apology to the club and its fans on social media.
“What happened this week in training is unacceptable,” Tchouaméni wrote. "I say this while thinking about the example we are expected to set for young people, whether in football or at school.
“Above all, I am sorry for the image we projected of the club.”
Valverde was not at practice due to the head knock.
Both players are set to play in the World Cup next month, with Tchouaméni playing for France and Valverde for Uruguay.
Chaotic end to a poor season
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The run-in between the players, who for seasons have played side by side in Madrid's midfield, came after they argued this week in previous training sessions. But tempers boiled over on Thursday. Spanish media was rife with reports that the players previously disagreed over the club's decision to let coach Xabi Alonso go after just months on the job.
It was not the only altercation involving Madrid players during training this week. Álvaro Carreras confirmed he was in a “minor” incident with a teammate. Spanish media said he and fellow defender Antonio Rüdiger got into a scuffle.
Álvaro Arbeloa, the coach who was promoted from Madrid's reserve team when Alonso was fired in January, will face tough questions on what went wrong inside the changing room when he gives a press conference on Saturday ahead of the clasico at Camp Nou.
Madrid is facing a second consecutive campaign without a major trophy amid rumors in the Spanish media that club president Florentino Pérez is considering bringing back Jose Mourinho to straighten out his underperforming team.
