Freedom Network wins award

French Justice Minister Nicole Belloubet on Tuesday handed civic liberties organization Freedom Network, France’s prestigious Human Rights Prize. Freedom Network was awarded the prize for its “excellent work for freedom of information, freedom of the press and journalism.”

The prize, which was set up in 1988, is awarded in recognition of the excellence and impact of the recipient’s work.  “The award of this prize is an honor for Freedom Network and essentially constitutes recognition of the struggle by Pakistani journalists, media and civil society for the defence and promotion of freedom of information, freedom of the press and journalism in Pakistan,” said Iqbal Khattak, the executive director of the Islamabad-based Freedom Network after receiving the prize.

“I dedicate this award to all those journalists, media workers, bloggers and human rights and civil society activists in Pakistan who have either sacrificed their lives or continue to face myriad pressures to uphold these fundamental freedoms,” he said.

Published in The Express Tribune, December 13^th, 2017.