MONITORING DESK
ISLAMABAD: Indian journalist Rana Ayyub, a vocal critic of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s anti-Muslim rhetoric and policies, on Wednesday night received the John Aubuchon award conferred on her by the National Press Club of Washington DC.
Named after the 95th president of the National Press Club John R. Aubuchon, the award is the Club’s highest honor for press freedom.
Indian free press under attack
Ayyub, an opinion columnist at the Washington Post, has been facing harassment and receiving threats for her critical reporting of the Modi regime.
The newspaper issued a full-page advertisement earlier this year in support of the journalist, saying “the free press is under attack in India”.
After the announcement of her name in July 2022, Ayyub dedicated the award to her colleagues who are incarcerated in different prisons across the country.
While speaking during her acceptance speech on Wednesday, Rana Ayyub said that there was no free press in India anymore.
Award on book about Gujrat riots cover-up
Ayyub is the author of ‘Gujarat Files: Anatomy of a Cover-Up’ – a controversial 2016 book accusing government officials of being involved in the 2002 riots that killed thousands of Muslims and forces hundreds of thousands to displace.
She has been facing harassment and other forms of maltreatment – including charges of money laundering and tax fraud – by the Indian government and supporters of Modi for criticizing the government over the persecution of Muslims and raising voice for press freedom in India.
