NEW YORK — Lotfullah Najafizada, CEO of Amu TV, accepted the 2024 Canada-United Kingdom Media Freedom Award on Friday on behalf of Afghanistan’s independent journalists, recognizing their resilience in the face of severe repression.
The award ceremony took place on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly in New York and was presented by Canada’s Foreign Minister Mélanie Joly and Lord Collins of Highbury, Deputy Leader of the UK’s House of Lords.
Several prominent international figures attended the event, including Czech Foreign Minister Jan Lipavský, Costa Rican Foreign Minister Arnoldo André, Nobel Laureate Maria Ressa, and Jodie Ginsberg, head of the Committee to Protect Journalists.
This is the first time the Canada-UK Media Freedom Award has been given to Afghanistan’s journalists, a tribute to their courage in continuing to report under increasingly difficult conditions. Since the Taliban’s return to power in August 2021, journalists in Afghanistan have faced growing threats, including arrests, torture, and censorship.
According to Reporters Without Borders, 141 journalists have been detained by the Taliban over the past three years, with many subjected to torture. Taliban courts have also sentenced 47 journalists to prison during this period.
Taliban have imposed strict restrictions on Afghan media, banning the appearance of unveiled women on television and prohibiting live political broadcasts, among other measures.
Despite these challenges, Afghan journalists remain committed to their work. “We are deeply moved by this recognition. It is an honor for the entire Afghan media community—from those reporting in remote villages to those working in exile,” said Najib Asil, head of the Free Speech Hub in Afghanistan.
The Taliban’s crackdown on media freedom has drawn global condemnation.
