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Samir Kassir Award for Freedom of Press

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The Samir Kassir Award for Freedom of Press (جائزة سمير قصير لحرية الصحافة) is an annual award established by the European Union in 2006[1] to honor the memory of Lebanese journalist Samir Kassir, who was assassinated on June 2, 2005, in Beirut.[2] The award recognizes journalists from North Africa, the Middle East, and the Gulf who have distinguished themselves through the quality of their work and their commitment to human rights, democracy, good governance, and civic engagement.[1] Each winner receives a €10,000 prize.[1][3]

History

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The establishment of the Samir Kassir Award was announced on October 7, 2005, by the European Commission during a press conference in Beirut. The award was created to support journalists covering issues related to human rights, good governance, the rule of law, the fight against corruption, freedom of expression, democratic development, and citizen participation.[1][3]

The Samir Kassir Foundation, launched on February 1, 2006, by friends of Samir Kassir, collaborates with the European Union to administer the award. The first award ceremony took place on June 2, 2006, marking the first anniversary of Kassir's assassination. Initially, the award was divided into two categories: best article and best master's thesis. Over the years, it evolved to focus on print journalism and later included categories for best opinion article, best investigative article, and best audiovisual news report.[1][3] The 2020 edition also included a special Students' Award, granted by students from Lebanese universities, and since2021 by students from universities across the MENA region.[3]

Since its inception, the Samir Kassir Award has been awarded 19 times, recognizing the work of 57 journalists and researchers, including 34 men and 23 women.[1][3]

The award has been granted 18 times to Egyptian winners, 12 times to Syrian winners, 9 times to Lebanese winners, 5 times to Palestinian winners, 4 times to Iraqi winners, 3 times to Tunisian winners, and once each to Yemeni, Algerian, Jordanian, and Libyan winners.[3]

Jury Composition

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The award jury comprises seven members of different nationalities and backgrounds, including four from the Arab world and three from European Union Member States. Jury members have included journalists, media professionals, human rights investigators, researchers, civil society representatives, and former government officials recognized for their contributions to advancing human rights.[1][3]

Winners

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Year Category Winner Country
2024 Best Opinion Article
Best Investigative Article
Best Audiovisual Report
Students
Abdelrahman ElGendy
Hadeel Arja
Aseel Sariah
Mohammed Abu Shahma
 Egypt
 Syria
 Yemen
 Palestine
2023 Best Opinion Article
Best Investigative Article
Best Audiovisual Report
Students
Inas Hakky
Mahmoud Elsobky
Mohamad Chreyteh
Inas Hakky
 Syria
 Egypt
 Lebanon
 Syria
2022 Best Opinion Article
Best Investigative Article
Best Audiovisual Report
Students
Ezzat el Kamhawi
Safaa Khalaf
Iman Adel
Rukaia Al-Abadi and Fatima Othman
 Egypt
 Iraq
 Egypt
 Syria /  Lebanon
2021 Best Opinion Article
Best Investigative Article
Best Audiovisual Report
Students
Yehya Al-Yaqoubi
Sultan Jalabi
Hoda Zakaria and Mennatullah Hamdy / Hammadi Lassoued
Yehya Al-Yaqoubi
 Palestine
 Syria
 Egypt /  Tunisia
 Palestine
2020 Best Opinion Article
Best Investigative Article
Best Audiovisual Report
Students
Rim Ben Rjeb
Mostafa Abu Shams
Dalal Mawad
Kamal Ayash
 Tunisia
 Syria
 Lebanon
 Iraq
2019 Best Opinion Article
Best Investigative Article
Best Audiovisual Report
Roger Asfar
Ali Al-Ibrahim
Youssef Ziraoui
 Syria
 Syria
 Morocco
2018 Best Opinion Article
Best Investigative Article
Best Audiovisual Report
Miloud Yabrir
Asmaa Shalaby
Asaad Zalzali
 Algeria
 Egypt
 Iraq
2017 Best Opinion Article
Best Investigative Article
Best Audiovisual Report
Issa Ali Khodr
Ghada El-Sharif
Asaad Zalzali
 Syria
 Egypt
 Iraq
2016 Best Opinion Article
Best Investigative Article
Best Audiovisual Report
Maher Massoud
Mohammad Tarek
Matar Ismaeel
 Syria
 Egypt
 Syria
2015 Best Opinion Article
Best Investigative Article
Best Audiovisual Report
Ayman Al-Ahmad
Hesham Mannaa
Mohammad Nour Ahmad
 Syria
 Egypt
 Palestine
2014 Best Opinion Article
Best Investigative Article
Best Audiovisual Report
Mohamed Abo El-Gheit
Hanene Zbiss
Orwa Mokdad
 Syria
 Tunisia
 Egypt
2013 Best Opinion Article
Best Investigative Article
Best Audiovisual Report
Ahmed Abu Draa
Doha Hassan
Luna Safwan
 Egypt
 Palestine
 Lebanon
2012 Best Opinion Article
Best Investigative Article
Suleiman al-Khalidi
Pakinam Amer
 Jordan
 Egypt
2011 Best Opinion Article
Best Investigative Article
Ethar El-Katatney
Habib Battah
 Egypt
 Lebanon
2010 Best Opinion Article
Best Investigative Article
Mustafa Fetouri
Safaa Saleh
 Libya
 Egypt
2009 Best Opinion Article
Best Investigative Article
Mona Eltahawy
Carole Kerbage
 Egypt
 Lebanon
2008 Article
Thesis
Naela Khalil
Marwan Harb
 Palestine
 Lebanon
2007 Article

Thesis

Ahmed Benchemsi
Rita Chemaly
 Morocco
 Lebanon
2006 Article

Article

Habib Battah
Dina Abdel Mooty Darwish
 Lebanon

 Egypt

References

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  1. ^ a b c d e f g "Samir Kassir Award for Freedom of the Press | EEAS". www.eeas.europa.eu. Retrieved 2024-06-15.
  2. ^ "Lebanese journalist killed in car blast". The Guardian. 2005-06-02. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 2024-06-15.
  3. ^ a b c d e f g "History". Samir Kassir Award | For Freedom of the Press. Retrieved 2024-06-15.