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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Another North Goa nightclub sealed; Kejriwal says corruption led to fire tragedy
Panaji (PTI): As part of a crackdown against tourist establishments violating laws and safety norms in the aftermath of the Arpora fire tragedy, Goa authorities on Saturday sealed a renowned club at Vagator and revoked the fire department NOC of another club.
Cafe CO2 Goa, located on a cliff overlooking the Arabian Sea at Vagator beach in North Goa, was sealed. The move came two days after Goya Club, also in Vagator, was shut down for alleged violations of rules.
Elsewhere, campaigning for local body polls, AAP leader Arvind Kejriwal said the fire incident at Birch by Romeo Lane nightclub at Arpora, which claimed 25 lives on December 6, happened because the BJP government in the state was corrupt.
An inspection of Cafe CO2 Goa by a state government-appointed team revealed that the establishment, with a seating capacity of 250, did not possess a no-objection certificate (NOC) of the Fire and Emergency Services Department. The club, which sits atop Ozrant Cliff, also did not have structural stability, the team found.
The Fire and Emergency Services on Saturday also revoked the NOC issued to Diaz Pool Club and Bar at Anjuna as the fire extinguishers installed in the establishment were found to be inadequate, said divisional fire officer Shripad Gawas.
A notice was issued to Nitin Wadhwa, the partner of the club, he said in the order.
Campaigning at Chimbel village near Panaji in support of his party's Zilla Panchayat election candidate, Aam Aadmi Party leader Kejriwal said the nightclub fire at Arpora happened because of the "corruption of the Pramod Sawant-led state government."
"Why this fire incident happened? I read in the newspapers that the nightclub had no occupancy certificate, no building licence, no excise licence, no construction licence or trade licence. The entire club was illegal but still it was going on," he said.
"How could it go on? Couldn't Pramod Sawant or anyone else see it? I was told that hafta (bribe) was being paid," the former Delhi chief minister said.
A person can not work without bribing officials in the coastal state, Kejriwal said, alleging that officers, MLAs and even ministers are accepting bribes.
