Interview With Shahrgan Cultural Magazine of Vancouver .....

https://shahrgon.com/2023/153981/

Morteza Abdolalian’s proposal to award the International Press Freedom Award to two Iranian female journalists, Niloufar Hamedi and Elaheh Mohammadi, and to hold a ceremony to present the award tonight, inspired us to talk to him and get to know the Canadian Journalists Association for Freedom of Expression better. The following is the conversation: First, tell us a little about yourself and then introduce us to the Canadian Journalists Association for Freedom of Expression. How old is it and who are its members? In the mid-1990s, following human rights activities at the Center for Human Rights and Democracy in Iran (Toronto), I decided to bring together journalists from all over the world in exile (in Canada). After a long and tireless effort, I ended up forming the Journalists In Exile (JEX) organization. We gathered from thirty countries in this organization and got in touch with (CJFE), where I was elected as president at its first meeting and became its executive director in 2002 at the request of the CJFE executive director. Since then, I have continued my activities both in the management of IFEX and CJFE in the field of helping journalists who were and are in need of help around the world. The Canadian Investigative Journalists organization, known as CIJ for short, was founded in an underground room in Montreal in 1980-1981. At the time, it was investigating suspicious deaths, killings and defending journalists in Latin America. In the 1990s, with the help of the Canadian Journalists for Freedom of Expression (CJFE), IFEX, the International Press Freedom House, was founded, which is also managed by the CJFE board. Today, IFEX manages more than 100 global press freedom organizations and is headquartered in Toronto, Canada, with more than 20 employees. CJFE is an advocate for journalists around the world and advocates for freedom of expression. How were Niloufar Hamedi and Elahe Mohammadi nominated for this award, and what was the reaction of the Canadian Journalists for Freedom of Expression? In September, after the murder of Mahsa Gina Amini and the reporting of Niloufar Hamedi and Elahe Mohammadi and the imprisonment of these two brave journalists, I immediately wrote a letter and proposed them for this award. Although the deadline for submitting nominations for this award had passed a few months ago, since the winners of the award had not yet been determined and announced, I did so and asked other journalist friends, including Fariba Sahraei, Nikahang Kausar and Maryam Aqomei, to support this proposal. This is how the proposal was carried out. Until last January 2023, we learned that the two Iranian journalists we had proposed had won the award. I would like to take this opportunity to congratulate Niloufar Hamedi and Elahe Mohammadi. Although unfortunately they are currently imprisoned in Iran and were not present at this ceremony to receive their award from the talented Canadian author Margaret Atwood at the ceremony tonight (February 15). How did Niloufar Hamedi and Elahe Mohammadi learn about the award while they were in prison? The Canadian Journalists’ Association for Freedom of Expression has been in contact with the families of the two journalists and has informed them of the award. Both journalists learned about the award in prison through their families and the press. Who received the award on behalf of the two journalists and how will they deliver it to them? Shahram Rafizadeh and his daughter Sheila received the award symbolically for the two journalists imprisoned in Iran, and as far as I know, they will also deliver the award to their families. When did the International Press Freedom Award begin and who have received it so far and what countries were they from? The Press Freedom Awards began in the mid-1990s and are an annual ceremony to recognize the courage and integrity of journalists in their professional work, both from around the world and in Canada, for their investigative journalism and whistleblowing. The ceremony is attended by hundreds of prominent Canadian journalists, and continues late into the night, with speeches by the award winners and other speakers, and the screening of video clips from some of the countries and the conditions of journalists and freedom of expression around the world. So far, journalists from Palestine, the Philippines, Iran, Russia, Eritrea, Egypt, Mexico, Lebanon, Somalia, Sudan and other countries have received this award. How are people selected to receive this award and what process do they go through? The award winners are selected by a Gala Committee consisting of several Canadian journalists. The process for nominating journalists for the award is to write a letter, nominating journalists, and sending that letter to the CJFE before June. Were they able to send a message for tonight's program? Unfortunately, this was not possible, and as you know, these two female journalists are in prison under the Islamic regime and were unable to send a message. What Canadian government and non-government figures and Iranian figures participated in this ceremony? Tonight's program featured renowned Canadian author and poet Margaret Atwood, who presented the awards plaque to Shahram Rafizadeh and his daughter Sheila, who were the symbolic recipients. Carol Off hosted the CBC's As it Happen. Several Iranian and Afghan journalists were also in attendance, along with dozens of journalists from various Canadian media outlets. The Canadian Pen Association, the Canadian Ethnic Media Association (CEMA), and IFEX were also present at tonight's ceremony.