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Kate Webber for freelancer denuding dystopian realities of blockaded J&K


Kate Webber for freelancer denuding dystopian realities of blockaded J&K

Ahmer Khan (27) an independent multimedia journalist from Kashmir, who has been unwavering this past year in his admirable efforts to cast light on the plight and suffering of the Kashmiri locals during the state's prolonged ruinous lockdown, met the mid-february announcement of himself as the to-be-recipient of the 2019 AFP Kate Webber prize with grace, composure, humility and gratitude.
The communications blackout which kicked in, 5th of August last year, as part of the Delhi-induced clampdown meant not only that foreign journalists w
ere barred passage into the region but also that all internet communications and cellphone and landline services had been wiped out, essentially blinding the rest of the globe to whatever that were to transpire there. It was at this juncture that Ahmer Khan and his "resilient colleagues from the Kashmir journalist corps" dared to fill in the information vacuum and get the word out on what was happening there. This task was as far removed from easy as could be given the strong presence of armed forces and streets embroiled in curfew. Equipped with a camera Khan began documenting the severe hardships, frustrations and concerns that residents in Srinagar and other cities of Kashmir found themselves confronted with. Given the total dearth of outlets and network in Kashmir, Khan was forced into making frequent roundtrips to Delhi to file his video and written reports.
“Reporting from Kashmir at this time has been extremely challenging for everyone, including the established foreign media. For an independent, local journalist those challenges have been far greater, and it is to Ahmer’s enormous credit that he managed to provide accurate, high-quality journalism when it was so sorely needed.” said AFP’s Asia-Pacific regional director Philippe Massonnet.
Two video reports by Khan published on The New York Times website depict the disruptions to daily life in Srinagar, police brutality perpetrated against protestors on the pretext of law and order, cases of missing persons and grieving family members, hauntingly desolate streets on the occasion of Eid and escalating fury and resentment among residents towards the government. In addition Khan authored many written reports two of which, concerning mass-arrests of residents, it's consequences on Kashmiri families and the economic recoil of the lockdown on Kashmir's apple and tourism industry, have been published on The Guardian and The Los Angeles Times websites.
"This is a real honour, and a huge motivation to carry on my work with enthusiasm and determination. I want to dedicate this award to the courageous and resilient journalists from Kashmir who have been reporting in extremely difficult conditions for the past six months. This is a collective award." said Ahmer Khan responding to being named the 2019 AFP Kate Webb winner.

ABOUT THE KATE WEBB PRIZE

This award which includes a certificate and prize money of €3000 (₹2.34 lakhs) takes it's name after the legendary AFP journalist Kate Webb who became notorious for fearlessly reporting from zones of war and conflict such as Vietnam, Cambodia, Indonesia, Thailand, the Philippines, South Korea and the Middle East.
Asad Hashim the 2018 winner of the prize took to twitter to congratulate his successor Ahmer Khan: "Congratulations, Ahmer Khan! One of the reporters who risked a great deal to ensure that audiences remained informed of what was, and is, happening Indian-administered Kashmir since the August security crackdown and communications blockade."
Ahmer becomes the second Indian journalist, after Dilnaz Boga in 2011, to win the prize.

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