Recognition highlights the significance of journalistic integrity in addressing human rights and religious freedom issues.
Rokibuz Zaman of Scroll has been awarded the Human Rights and Religious Freedom Young Journalist Award 2025. This accolade was announced as part of the annual Human Rights and Religious Freedom Journalism Awards, organized by the Indian American Muslim Council, an advocacy group located in Washington, United States.
The Indian American Muslim Council stated that the awards aim to recognize exceptional journalism that elevates pressing issues related to human rights and religious freedom, both in India and among its diaspora. This year’s awards reflected a robust competition, with over 250 submissions across six distinct categories.
In its press note, the advocacy group emphasized the importance of the awards, noting that they celebrate the courage, rigor, and dedication to truth demonstrated by journalists, especially amidst growing threats to press freedom. The recognition serves not only to honor individual journalists but also to highlight the critical role of media in advocating for human rights and religious freedom.
In addition to Zaman’s achievement, Akanksha Kumar, associated with Newslaundry and Article 14, secured the award for Best Text Reporting on Human Rights & Religious Freedom (English). Her series focused on the issue of fake police encounters and the criminalization of Muslims in Haryana. Another notable mention was Scroll’s Nolina Minj, who was a finalist in the same category.
The award for Best Reporting on Human Rights & Religious Freedom (Hindi) went to Umang Poddar from BBC Hindi, recognizing his work on the 2020 Delhi riots. Vikhar Ahmed Sayeed, along with Frontline Magazine, was awarded for Best Story on Human Solidarity for their documentary titled ‘Together We Sing’.
The Best Video Story on Human Rights and Religious Freedom was awarded to a team from ABC News, which included Meghna Bali, Bhat Burhan, and Mohammad Sartaj Alam. Their report addressed the issue of Hindu nationalists blocking Christian funerals in India.
Moreover, a Special Mention was given to The Quint’s Aditya Menon, Aliza Noor, Syed Faheem Ahmed, Ashutosh Singh, Naman Shah, and Zijah Sherwani for their collaborative project titled Uncovering Hate: The Quint’s Tracker. This recognition underscores the ongoing challenges faced by journalists in reporting on sensitive issues, particularly in the context of human rights and religious freedoms.
The 2025 Human Rights and Religious Freedom Journalism Awards not only celebrate individual accomplishments but also highlight the collective responsibility of journalists to address and bring to light critical social issues. The work of Zaman and his peers exemplifies the vital role of journalism in fostering a society that values human rights and religious freedom.
