Anisa Shaheed, a journalist from Afghanistan, along with six other journalists from Ukraine, El Salvador, Bulgaria and the United States received International Center for Journalists’ prestigious Knight International Journalism Award.
The award is aimed at honoring outstanding journalism that makes an impact. Anisa is known for her fearless reporting on human rights, violence and corruption in Afghanistan.
In 2021, when the Taliban took over Afghanistan she fled the country but continues to provide insightful coverage of her people as a freelance journalist from the US.
“I dedicate this award to all of the fallen journalists who sacrificed their lives for Afghanistan,” Shaheed said after receiving the award. “Female journalists are not allowed to attend press conferences… Almost 200 journalists have been arrested and tortured since the (Taliban) takeover.”
A number of journalists from Afghanistan said Shaheed had made tireless efforts for telling the truth to the people.
“I worked with Anisa for five years. She was honest in her work and treated issues professionally,” said Massoud Ansar, an Afghan journalist, now in France. “Anisa is a fearless and courageous journalist.”
The Kabul-based Afghan Journalists Safety Committee said Anisa Shaheed worked tirelessly as a journalist under challenging circumstances in Afghanistan and that she deserves such an award.
“Being a journalist is challenging in Afghanistan and needs courage, especially for women… Anisa Shaheed is one of those courageous journalists who deserve this award,” said Abdul Qadim Wiyar, a researcher in the committee.
Shaheed is the second Afghan journalist who receives International Center for Journalists’ prestigious Knight International Journalism Award. In 2012, Sami Mahdi, a journalist from Afghanistan, received the award.
