Pakistan

Excellence in journalism: Top Italian prize for Saleem Shahzad

Jury notes he had to pay with his life for his desire to tell the truth at all costs.

June 11, 2011

ROME:

Italy’s Ischia Prize Foundation announced on Friday that it will confer a posthumous honour upon Pakistani reporter Syed Saleem Shahzad. The decision to award Shahzad was a unanimous one and was backed by all members of the jury. The annual prize honours excellence in journalism and communication.

Shahzad, Pakistan correspondent for Adnkronos International, Asia Times Online and La Stampa, was abducted in Islamabad and tortured to death by unidentified men on May 29. He was found dead two days later, some 150 kilometres southwest of Islamabad.

In their citations, members of the Ischia prize jury described Shahzad as “inquiring and enthusiastic” journalist who “did in-depth reporting in Pakistan and Afghanistan, where he interviewed various jihadist commanders, as well as in Iraq, Lebanon and Jordan, Iran, Syria and the United Arab Emirates.”

“An expert in international terrorism, Shahzad with his illuminating analyses of international terrorism, and the social and cultural reality so different from our own, he embodied a passionate and courageous model for journalism which viewed the profession as the supreme mission for peace and culture,” said the Ischia Prize Foundation.

“Through his articles published by AKI, and his in-depth reports and stories for the various dailies he worked for, Shahzad managed to bring to an Italian audience the complex reality of that region of the world of which he was an acute and intrepid observer. He paid with his life for his desire to tell the truth at all costs.”

Shahzad is survived by his wife and three children aged 7, 10 and 13. His wife Anita will collect the award.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 11^th, 2011.

COMMENTS (6)

Anwar Rajput | 13 years ago | Reply Let the rulers of the islamic republic of pakistan know that syed saleem shehzad has paid the heavy price by sacrificing his life for speaking facts ande truth and his death has caused his orphaned children have no moey even to pay their monthly school fee. Thr PM must give immediate sanction to pay at least Rs.20 lac as a token of relief measure to the shaheed-e-sahafat grieved family in karachi..Also Rs.10 lac be given to the grieved family of slain youth shaheed sarfaraz. The only conclusion of these two inhuman acts of barbarity, coming one after another is the that the day-light abduction of saleem shehzad and then tortured to death was enacted as replay in the day-light killing of sarfraz by the state machine.The rulers seem to forget their state responsibilities towards people's life and security and they are giving an impression to the outside world that we are a failed state.

Jehangir | 13 years ago | Reply Undoubtedly, honouring Shehzad is overdue. But, more importantly, his work, his books be made available to the world. This apart, the family of Shehzad should receive compensation to live a life in peace and comfort, educating his kids, and meeting all expenses. The Government of Pakistan should provide a plot / home to the family of Shehzad May God Bless Shehzad`s family with the courage shehzad had.

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Utopia | 13 years ago | Reply @ the above two comments: STOP using 'Islamic' with terrorism or fascism. The moment a person or act becomes fascist, it exits the domain of Islam. Please protect the dignity of Islam. They are not Muslims, treat them as only terrorists or fascists, as they are also the enemy of Islam. Maintain the difference!!!! Maybe it can help us out.

kulamarva balakrishna | 13 years ago | Reply Vienna,11-06-2011 I am ashamed of the Ischia Prize Foundation. Posthumously what it should have done is to announce relief to wife and kids at least.If it is not in a position to take full care, it can contribute to the Shahzad Fund, the "trustfund" launched by Asia Times Online. Mind you, I am not an employer or relation but a simple journalist colleague as witness. My own personal and my Taravadu Taranga Trust for Media Monitoring,TTTMM contributions are on way to Hong Kong head office of the Asia Times Online.I help you here is the address where any one including Ischia Prize Foundation send contributions to the surviving kin. "Shahzad Fund", Ms.Yvonne Yu, Asia Times Online,Unit B,16/F,Li Dong Building,No.9 Li Yuen Street, Central Hong Kong.Even concerned readers can send the value of a couple dollars or EUROs direct there.May be Asia Times Online,who are in touch with Reporters Without Borders would feel encouraged to help where it helps most.Don´t forget the gunned down by rangers at Karachi Sarfaraz Shah, the younger sibling.Human kindness should not be restricted to Eid Day alone.Let us see how many The Express Tribune readers have a healthy heart. Kulamarva Balakrishna

nayyer akhtar | 13 years ago | Reply @muhammad adnan khan: the media be it our local pakistani media or the international media are all scared to death of islamic terrorists.they've seen what happens to the people who stand up to islamic fascism and no one wants to die.our local journalists know the brutality and savagery that the islamic fanaticsa are capable of and decide to stay quiet and save their necks. the international media also is afraid as they saw the ruckus that ensued after some cartoons were published in denmark.The islamic extremists got so worked up over some cartoons that they tried to kill the cartoonists and some mullahs even had reward money set for anyone who would kill the cartoonists!!! so what can you expect of people who get agitated and lose their minds over some cartoons appearing in some faroff country.

muhammad adnan khan | 13 years ago | Reply instead of just giving out prizes for journalists,the foreign countries should also take note of and provide media coverage to the horrible atrocities that the non-muslims have to face in our country.The amount of religious hate and bigotry that the non-muslims have to face is shocking.The enactment of laws based on religious discrimination helped increase the suffocating atmosphere that the non-muslims already face in pakistan. Why doesn't anybody in the rest of the world take notice of this and ask the pakistani government to take measures to ensure that the non-muslims are also treated as human beings by the muslims in pakistan. The foreign journalists based in pakistan should highlight the plight of the minorities in pakistan.

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