I was honoured to receive the Anna Lindh Journalism Award for Outstanding Professional Contribution at a ceremony in Monaco on Oct. 14. It was especially thrilling to receive the foundation’s special award along with veteran French journalist and editor Jean Daniel who received a Lifetime Achievement Award. It was the first time the foundation gave out special awards.

The foundation also gave out its annual prizes in various journalism categories. Congratulations to all winners!

I dedicated my award to journalists and bloggers in the Middle East who refuse to be silenced and mentioned recent attacks on freedom of expression in the region – the detention of Bahraini blogger Ali Abdulemem and Syrian blogger Tal Malouhi, the closure of Moroccan magazine Nichane after government pressure and the firing of Egyptian journalist and editor Ibrahim Eissa.

It was especially rewarding to be recognized as a “pioneering voice in in writing on Islam and women”. I also dedicated my award to Muslim women everywhere who demand on speaking for themselves.