Washington DC, July 01, 2022 (PPI-OT):Noted Indian journalist Rana Ayyub has won the 2022 International John Aubuchon Award, the Unites States’ highest award for a free press. The US National Press Club President, Jen Judson and National Press Club Journalism Institute President Gil Klein said, “We are pleased to name Rana Ayyub the 2022 John Aubuchon Award International Honouree. Ms Ayyub’s courage and skill in investigative work has been evident throughout her distinguished career and her criticism of the government has been met with an unwelcome assault on her rights and freedom of expression.”

Later, Rana Ayyub, in her statement on Twitter thanked the Press Club and said that “it is a testing time for journalism in India”. She further added: “Huge honour to receive this award, the first ever for an Indian.” Rana Ayyub dedicated the award to her colleagues who are lying in different prisons across the country. “Dedicating this to my colleagues Mohd. Zubair, Siddique Kappan and Asif Sultan, incarcerated for speaking truth to power,” she said.

The Gujrat Files author Rana Ayyub has always been targeted by Narendra Modi-led fascist Indian government and pro-Modi Indian media. She receives threats against her life and rape on a regular basis for her fierce criticism of the Modi government and journalistic work.

Ayyub had last week received a notice from Twitter informing her of her account being withheld due to the Indian IT laws, garnering support for her and condemnation against the Indian government. After being accused in a money laundering case by India’s Enforcement Directorate (ED), she was not allowed to leave the country to participate in a program.

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