Fact-checker Zubair wins 2023 Freedom of Expression award

NT Correspondent

Bengaluru/London: Mohammed Zubair, co-founder of Alt News, was honored with the 2023 Freedom of Expression Award in journalism, presented by the Index on Censorship.

The organization recognized Zubair for his courage in confronting false and misleading information disseminated by influential members of the ruling party, which resulted in substantial threats to his safety.

Index on Censorship, a London-based non-profit dedicated to championing freedom of expression, annually bestows Freedom of Expression Awards in four categories: arts, campaigning, journalism, and the Trustee Award.

These awards are presented to individuals who have made a significant impact in combatting censorship. Zubair expressed that it would serve as a ray of hope for his young colleagues.

In September, when announcing the nominees, Index on Censorship highlighted Zubair's work and his arrest in June of the previous year.

Zubair, along with his colleagues, reported on various critical issues in India, including inter-communal violence, activities of vigilante groups, and the exploitation of social media platforms to amplify hate speech, utilizing both his personal Twitter account and the outlet's website.