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Emir of Qatar crowns 6 journalists with Doha Forum Award

The honorees took the greatest risks and made the greatest sacrifices to convey the truth. Wael Al-Dahdouh, Carmen Jokhdar and Christina Assi... Pioneering Models Honoring crowns the sacrifices of Moataz Azaiza, Dylan Collins and Sadaf Popolazai Doha - December 7, 2024: His Highness the Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani presented the Doha Forum Award to Mr. Wael Al Dahdouh and Ms. Carmen Joukhadar, correspondents of Al Jazeera Network, Mr. Moataz Azaiza, freelance photojournalist, Mr. Dylan Collins and Ms. Christina Assi, journalists of Agence France-Presse, and Ms. Sadaf Popolazai, Director of Radio "Arman FM" and "Arakizia FM", in appreciation of their role in documenting the most difficult moments, despite the risks and challenges they faced, while covering wars and conflicts in Palestine, Lebanon, Ukraine and Afghanistan. This came during His Highness's opening of the 22nd edition of the Doha Forum 2024, under the slogan "The Inevitability of Innovation", at the Sheraton Doha Hotel. His Highness the Amir’s honoring of the pioneering models of free press represents the culmination of the sacrifices of fellow journalists who were keen to convey the truth in conflict zones and paid a heavy price for their keenness to inform the world of what is happening during conflicts. This honor also sends a message about the importance of the role of journalists in the world and the necessity of sparing them the dangers of conflict. Wael Aldahdouh Wael Al-Dahdouh, Al Jazeera's correspondent in Gaza, is an icon of commitment and steadfastness, as he was keen to continue presenting reports live from Gaza, after his personal loss of his wife, 3 of his children, his grandson, and many of his family members. Al-Dahdouh lost his wife, son and daughter in an airstrike on the Nuseirat refugee camp on October 28, 2023, and his son Hamza was martyred in an Israeli airstrike on January 7, 2024. Al-Dahdouh himself was shot on December 15, 2023 by an Israeli drone while covering the bombing of a school in Khan Yunis, and despite all the unimaginable pain and grief, Al-Dahdouh continued his work to convey the truth to the world. Al-Dahdouh said in his speech: “My honoring today is an honoring of all journalists, martyrs, wounded, and colleagues who are still doing their duty within the sector.” Moataz Azayzeh A Palestinian journalist and photographer, he has done great work and gained the following of millions of people around the world, after he captured the most difficult moments of the war that Israel has been waging on the Palestinian territories since October 2023. Carmen Jokhdar A Lebanese journalist, working for Al Jazeera, who was injured during the Israeli bombing of southern Lebanon, despite clear signs that she was a journalist. She has been working in this field for 15 years in Beirut. Dylan Collins Chief photographer for Agence France-Presse in Beirut, he has worked in the Middle East for years, speaks fluent Arabic, and was injured while covering the conflict, across the border with Lebanon, and was also injured while working in Ukraine. Christina Assi A Lebanese journalist, working for Agence France-Presse, was injured by an Israeli shell while covering events in southern Lebanon. Populazae shell She is a media professional from Afghanistan who is the director of Arman FM and Arakzia FM. The 22nd edition of the Doha Forum kicked off this morning under the slogan “The Inevitability of Innovation” with the participation of 4,500 participants from more than 150 countries. The opening of the Doha Forum was attended by the presidents of Senegal, the Dominican Republic, Namibia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kazakhstan, Rwanda and the Central African Republic. The Prime Ministers of Egypt, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines and Barbados also attended, as well as the President of the 79th session of the United Nations General Assembly, the Secretary-General of the Gulf Cooperation Council, and a number of ministers and heads of diplomatic missions accredited to the State of Qatar.