Afghan journalist Salma Niazi, founder and Editor-in-Chief of The Afghan Times, has been honored with two prestigious global awards — the One Young World Journalist of the Year 2025 and the Lyra McKee Award for Bravery — in recognition of her fearless reporting under Afghanistan’s repressive media environment.
The awards were presented during the One Young World Summit held this week in Munich. Niazi was praised for her work giving voice to Afghan women, many of whom have been silenced under Taliban rule.
“This award is not just recognition. It is a reminder that the world is beginning to listen to Afghan women, and a responsibility to ensure their voices are never forgotten,” Niazi said in her acceptance speech.
Through The Afghan Times, Niazi has led projects including The Open Mic Podcast, a platform launched in 2024 sharing stories of resilience from Afghan women, and a series of influential magazine editions tackling themes such as food insecurity, child labor, and women’s voices in isolation. She also trains young journalists, building a network of contributors—many of them women—across the country.
The Lyra McKee Award, named after the Northern Irish journalist killed in 2019, honors courage in journalism. Niazi said receiving it reminded her of journalism’s power to give hope:
“We fight, not with weapons, but with courage, with words, and with hope.”
Alongside Niazi, Nilesh Christopher (India) and Leandro Amaya Camacho (Peru) were named One Young World Journalists of the Year for their work on technology and Indigenous rights, respectively.
Niazi’s double recognition marks a significant moment for Afghan journalism, particularly as independent media faces extreme restrictions. Her work stands as a beacon for truth-telling in one of the world’s most challenging environments for press freedom.
“Journalism in Afghanistan is not an easy path,” she said. “But it is a responsibility I carry with pride.”
