Outlook's Journalist Shahina K.K. gets CPJ International Press Freedom Award for 2023
New Delhi: Outlook magazine's senior editor, Shahina K.K., has been announced as one of the winners of the prestigious Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) International Press Freedom Award for 2023. The award recognizes Shahina's courageous journalism and her relentless efforts to shed light on critical issues such as gender, human rights, and marginalized communities in India. She will be among four journalists from different countries to receive this honor. The awards ceremony is scheduled to take place on November 16, 2023, in New York City.
Describing Shahina's exceptional career, the CPJ commended her extensive work in both print and broadcast media, where she fearlessly reported on the challenges faced by oppressed communities and highlighted their struggles for justice. Notably, Shahina was among the first journalists in India to face charges under a draconian anti-terror law that has been heavily used against journalists for more than a decade. Despite awaiting trial for a case initiated in 2010, when local government officials sought to criminalize her reporting on a controversial police investigation, Shahina continues to pursue her journalistic endeavors. As of June 2023, she is out on bail awaiting trial, which, if convicted, could result in a maximum prison sentence of three years and a fine. Throughout her career, Shahina, who is a Muslim, has also faced harassment from right-wing groups in India aiming to suppress her reporting on religious minorities and vulnerable caste groups.
Shahina's contributions to Outlook magazine have covered a wide range of subjects, including gender equality, human rights, and the plight of marginalized communities. Her noteworthy article titled "Gender Journey" examined a feminist perspective on the Uniform Civil Code and its historical engagement with the idea of UCC. Additionally, her piece titled "Taking the Bull by Its Horns" delved into the emergence of the queer community in the realm of sports, highlighting their resilience in the face of structural discrimination.
Expressing her gratitude for the recognition, Shahina reflected on a particular investigative story she pursued in 2010 for Tehelka, where she exposed a fabricated charge sheet against Abdul Nasar Madani, a Malayali Muslim cleric accused in the 2008 Bangalore bomb blast case. Shahina's interviews with three witnesses revealed that their statements had been manipulated and falsified. However, upon returning to Kerala, she discovered an FIR had been filed against her, accusing her of intimidating the witnesses. The legal proceedings against her have persisted for over a decade. In her acceptance speech, Shahina dedicated the award to all journalists who face violence, threats, and false charges in the line of duty.
In addition to Shahina K.K., three other remarkable individuals were recognized with the CPJ International Press Freedom Award for 2023. These include Nika Gvamaria from Georgia, the founder of Georgian broadcaster Mtavari Arkhi; Maria Teresa Montaño from Mexico, the founder and editor of The Observer; and Ferdinand Ayité from Togo, the director of investigative outlet L'Alternative.
Furthermore, the CPJ honored Alberto Ibargüen, the outgoing president of the Knight Foundation, with the Gwen Ifill Press Freedom Award for 2023. This award acknowledges Ibargüen's extraordinary and sustained contributions to the cause of press freedom.
Established in 1991, the Committee to Protect Journalists is an independent, non-governmental organization based in New York City. It focuses on recognizing individuals who have displayed exceptional courage in their journalism, particularly in countries where press freedom violations are severe. The CPJ International Press Freedom Awards are presented annually to honor journalists and publications that have demonstrated remarkable commitment to defending press freedom despite facing attacks, threats, or imprisonment.
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Waqf (Amendment) Bill passed in Lok Sabha with 288 votes
New Delhi: The Lok Sabha on Thursday passed the Waqf (Amendment) Bill, with 288 votes in favor and 232 against, following an intense and fiery debate that saw heated exchanges between the government and the opposition.
