Chances are, you have never heard of Ahmad Zeidabadi, or Mazen Darwish, or Abdullah Elshamy.
Or the scores and scores of other journalists just like them who have been imprisoned for doing their jobs.
Iranian journalist Zeidabadi was last night named the International Press Institute’s World Press Freedom Hero.
But, Zeidabadi couldn’t be at the ceremony in Doha, Qatar, to accept his award - he is in exile.
Banished from his home for five years.
A further punishment to the six years’ jail he had already served in Iran, after being charged with sedition and propaganda.
He was quoted as saying: “I’m condemned to become a stranger in my own country and have my mouth shut.”
Reformist journalist Ahmad Zeidabadi (right) (Getty) Source: Getty Images
Locked up in Syria
Mazen Darwish was also supposed to be at the ceremony.
He was last year’s freedom hero after being locked up for three years by the Syrian government.
He’s now free, but on his way to Doha, he was detained in Turkey and forcibly returned to Geneva, where he was covering the Syrian peace talks.
Darwish’s place at the IPI’s world congress was taken by his wife, Yara Badr, who had been jailed for three months herself.
She explained how experienced journalists in Syria were being replaced by civilians who would risk their lives to get information and video out of the country.
Their predicament was all the more hazardous because they rarely had any training.
Her husband made a brief appearance by webcam.
“I’m alive only thanks to your efforts,” he told the IPI delegates, who had worked to have him freed.
Persecuted in Egypt
Like Australian journalist Peter Greste, Abdullah Elsharmy was arrested in Egypt and spent 10 months in jail.
He said there were at least 90 journalists in Egypt serving prison terms of between 10 and 25 years.
Some were sentenced to death and another 60 were said to be detained in Yemen by Houthi fighters.
Globally, journalism is one of the most persecuted professions.
According to the IPI, on average, more than 100 have been killed each year since 1990.
Others have been kidnapped, tortured or simply disappeared.
Across the Middle East, the situation is dire.
The executive director of Arab Reporters for Investigative Journalism, Rana Sabbagh, told the congress anti-terrorism laws across the region mean any journalist can be considered a terrorist.
Hundreds of journalists and NGOs are in Doha for the IPI world congress. They’re calling for increased pressure on governments to ensure journalists can perform their roles safely.
