International Women’s Media Foundation (IWMF) has withdrawn the 2024 Courage in Journalism Award given to Palestinian journalist Maha Hosseini. Hosseini was honored for reporting from the Gaza Strip, where Israeli forces have been carrying out sustained and devastating attacks since October 7, 2023, following an offensive by Hamas.
Her work highlights the difficulties women in Gaza face during childbirth and the tragic story of a little girl carrying her paralyzed brother during the bombing. On Monday, June 10,
IWMF recognized Hosseini as one of three recipients of the Courage in Journalism Award, which recognizes extraordinary courage in reporting.
In a statement on Wednesday, June 19, the IWMF said, “Within the past 24 hours, IWMF has become aware of comments made by Maha Hussaini in past years that are contrary to our organization’s values. As a result, we have rescinded the Courage in Journalism Award that was previously given to her.”
“Courage Awards and IWMF ‘s mission is based on both integrity and opposition to intolerance. We do not and will not support views or statements that do not adhere to those principles.” The decision comes after a “vicious campaign” by the Washington Free Beacon that falsely accused him of supporting terrorism.
Addressing X on Thursday, June 20, Hosseini wrote, “If I weren’t on the ground reporting events and exposing Israel’s gross violations under dangerous conditions, I would not have been able to take the International Women’s Media Foundation (@IWMF) Fellowship in Journalism this June.”
“I would not have won the Courage Award 2024 while I was being systematically attacked by supporters of criminals.”
He added, “Winning an award for “courage” means being a victim of attacks and continuing your work despite it. However, I regret to say that the organization that recognized these dangerous situations and gave me the award, bowed to pressure and decided to do the opposite of courage; they withdrew the award in a decision that put my life at risk.”
“Indeed, I am very pleased that both my winning the award and its withdrawal clearly demonstrate the systematic physical and moral attacks that Palestinian journalists suffer throughout their careers.”
“However, every announcement of awards to Palestinian journalists is systematically followed by extensive smear campaigns and intense pressure exerted on the award-giving organisations by supporters of the Israeli occupation and the Zionist lobby. While some organisations uphold their principles and maintain their decision to honour these journalists, others, regrettably, succumb to the pressure and withdraw the awards.”
“Rather than recognising the threats they face and contributing to their safety, the decision to withdraw the award from a Palestinian journalist in Gaza – where more than 150 journalists have been killed in the ongoing Israeli massacre – could put them in further danger and increase their risk of being targeted.”
She said, “I have no regrets about any post or reason for turning down this award, and I will not stop expressing my views. Before being a journalist, I am a Palestinian living under military occupation, strangling blockade and genocide in Gaza.” “If winning an award means tolerating and witnessing war crimes in silence, then I am not honored to receive any award,” Husseini said. “I will always be objective in my reporting, but I can never be neutral; I will always single out the perpetrators and stand in solidarity with the victims. This is what journalism is all about.”
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2024-06-22 02:24:44