Index on Censorship weekly round-up

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Friday, 19 January 2024
[link removed]'re delighted to announce that the Index on Censorship Moment of Freedom 2023 ([link removed]) is the moment the young Afghan journalist Spozhmai Maani touched down in Paris after fleeing the Taliban to continue her career in Europe.

It is almost exactly a year since Spozhmai first contacted Index. Her email told the grim story of a young broadcast journalist forced to flee her country: “Due to my work as a journalist, I have confronted many things from house raids, serious threats, online bullying, digital and cyber-attacks and harassment,” she wrote. In her work as a presenter and reporter Spozhmai had already been the target of threats from the Taliban. But after the extremist group seized power in 2021, women journalists were forced off air and Spozhmai went into hiding before escaping to neighbouring Pakistan.

But her nightmare was not over. In Pakistan, the harassment continued, this time simply because she was an Afghan. After more than a year of living in fear and unable to earn her living as a journalist, Spozhmai wrote to us in desperation. The only way we could realistically help was to pay her for her work as a journalist, which is how Spozhmai became a contributor to Index, writing articles about the plight of journalists and artists in her home country.

Partly thanks to the support of Index and other free expression organisations, but mainly through her own determination, Spozhmai was finally able to reach safety in Paris in June 2023. The picture of her smiling in front of the Eiffel Tower said everything about this moment of freedom. We are proud to have played a small part in her story.

Afghanistan’s tragedy is that Spozhmai’s story is just one of many. It is incredibly difficult to be a journalist in Afghanistan under the Taliban where all dissent has been crushed, even more so for female journalists. Meanwhile, the UK government continues to fail to honour its promises to provide a safe route for journalists wishing to come to the UK. While other countries, including France, Germany, Ireland and even Kosovo provide refuge, the UK has kept its doors closed. We heard this week that another Index contributor, Salma Niazi, editor of Afghan Times, has arrived safely in Dublin. These journalists will make a significant contribution to the intellectual life of their host countries. The UK is diminished as a result.

Over the past year, Index has been inspired by journalists such as Spozhmai and Salma to organise a series of events to raise money to help their colleagues. Working with Zahra Joya, founder of Rukhshana Media, campaigner Zehra Zaidi and Katherine Schofield, Head of Music at King’s College, University of London we have helped develop a network of support. Events at Somerville College Oxford and King’s College chapel in London have helped raise awareness of the ongoing situation in Afghanistan. We have also worked closely with Alex Crawford, Special Correspondent at Sky News, who has done as much as anyone to publicise the ongoing struggle of women in Afghanistan.

Spozhmai told Index: "I am deeply honoured to receive the 'Moments of Freedom' award from Index on Censorship. I am grateful for the recognition and the support of everyone who voted – your belief in the power of free expression fuels my commitment to making a positive impact."

Martin Bright, editor-at-large


** Belarus: How censorship wins
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Alyaksandr Lukashenka in 2022. Photo: Kremlin.ru

After the re-election of long-time president Alyaksandr Lukashenka for a fifth term in 2020 and his subsequent violent crackdown on protests, the troubles for Belarus' publishing houses started. Six years after it had been founded, Januskevic Publishing House had several of its books banned, including a children's book, and its bookshop shut down. After the company's book The Dogs of Europe, by Alhierd Bacharevič, was deemed “extremist material” by the government, the founder knew the writing was on the wall. Read the story here ([link removed]) .


** The suffering of Wael al-Dahdouh in “deadliest conflict for journalists”
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Photo: Unews

Since the war in Gaza began more than 83 journalists have been killed, according to the CPJ ([link removed]) . Of these, 76 are Palestinian, four Israeli, and three Lebanese. The IDF insists that it is targeting terrorists and that many of those victims identified as journalists are in fact militant fighters. Others disagree vehemently. Wael al-Dahdouh, the bureau chief of Al Jazeera in Gaza, has become a focus for those criticising the attack on journalists after several members of his family, including his journalist son, were killed. A fellow journalist and friend of the family speaks to Index ([link removed]) .


** Who is having the last laugh?
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The winter magazine issue, entitled Having the last laugh ([link removed]) , sees comedians speak about the risks they currently face to tell a joke and why they won’t be silenced. Join us in London on 24 January for an evening of serious and seriously good humour to celebrate the launch, featuring some of the UK’s most brilliant comedians who champion free expression through comedy. The show will feature comedians Rosie Holt, Ahir Shah, Sharon Wanjohi, and Suchandrika Chakrabarti, plus special host John Sweeney!

This is sure to be the kick-off event of the year for Index and we’d love for you to come along. Get your tickets here ([link removed]) .


** From the Index archives
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** Hair apparent
by Masih Alinejad
Winter 2022
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Last Sunday two female journalists, Niloofar Hamedi and Elaheh Mohammadi, were released after 17 months in prison in Iran for spreading propaganda after the death in custody of Mahsa (Jina) Amini. Unbelievably, they have now been charged once more under the country's strict hijab laws after pictures surfaced of them celebrating their release with their heads uncovered. The news brought to mind our 2022 article when we interviewed exiled activist Masih Alinejad ([link removed]) who set up the White Wednesdays campaign in Iran against the country's strict laws.


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Index on Censorship defends people's freedom to express themselves without fear of harm or persecution. We publish censored writers and artists, monitor and campaign against censorship, and encourage debate.

We rely on donations from readers and supporters. By donating ([link removed]) to Index you help us to protect freedom of expression and to support those who are denied that right.
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