Three brave women journalists who have risked their lives covering the news have been named the International Women’s Media Foundation’s 2011 Courage in Journalism Award winners. Withstanding danger, threats and political pressure, Parisa Hafezi of Iran, Adela Navarro Bello of Mexico and Chiranuch Premchaiporn of Thailand have shown extraordinary dedication covering violence, corruption and social unrest [...]

UPDATE: Al Jazeera is now reporting that Iranian journalist, Dorothy Parvaz, has been deported from Syria to Iran, where she is being held.

“We are calling for information from the Iranian authorities, access to Dorothy, and for her immediate release. We have had no contact with Dorothy since she left Doha on April 29 and we are deeply concerned for her welfare.” An Al Jazeera spokesman said in a statement on Wednesday.

One of our favorite Iranian journalists, the brave and perfectly Persian-looking Maziar Bahari recently appeared on Jon Stewart’s The Daily Show after his release looking noticeably healthier. “You were imprisoned in Iran…” Said Stewart to Bahari. To which Bahari half-jokingly replied: “Yes. Because of you.” Bahari’s much-talked about detainment in Iran, he claims, stems partly from his participation in [...]

Washington, DC–Marking the 30-year anniversary of the Islamic Republic’s existence and reign in Iran, the year 2009 went by…well, fast. The summer of 2009, not so much. The Iranian election–which took the world by shock with its results and brutal force used on Iranian citizens by government-led orders–began in June and lasted throughout the summer: Most [...]

The Freedom to Create Prize is pleased to announce that renowned human rights advocate Bianca Jagger will present the main award at its prize ceremony on Wednesday 25 November 2009 at the Victoria & Albert Museum, London. Two Iranian creative and intellectual minds are amongst 1,015 artists from 110 countries who entered the lineup to receive the [...]