RT HONORS WORKS FROM SYRIA, IRAQ, AND PHILIPPINES IN INAUGURAL KHALED ALKHATEB MEMORIAL AWARDS
MOSCOW, JULY 31, 2018 — RT has concluded the inaugural year of the Khaled Alkhateb Memorial Awards, an international competition established in honor of RT Arabic war correspondent Khaled Alkhateb, who died while reporting from Syria. The winners of the competition were journalists from Iraq, Singapore, and Ireland whose reporting shed light on the conflicts in Iraq, the Philippines, and Syria, respectively. During the ceremony, Russia’s Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Bogdanov presented to Khaled’s father the Medal for Courage, which had been awarded to Khaled Alkhateb posthumously by Russian President Vladimir Putin.
“We lost Khaled a year ago. His death marked a new era for us. Now we will speak even louder about the horrors of war, and advocate for peace more fiercely. This award recognizes all those who risk their lives for this cause. Congratulations to all the winners,” — said RT’s Editor-in-Chief Margarita Simonyan.
At the ceremony, Special Presidential Representative for the Middle East and Africa, Deputy Foreign Minister of the Russian Federation Mikhail Bogdanov presented the Medal for Courage to Gasan Alkhateb, the father of Khaled Alkhateb. Khaled Alkhateb was given this honor posthumously by Russian President Vladimir Putin. Alkhateb’s crew members — cameraman Muutaz Yaqoub and driver Mohammad Hamham — also received medals.
The family of Khaled was also presented with a special Khaled Alkhateb Memorial Award as a symbol of the competition established in his honor.
The competition received entries from over 20 countries in 10 languages:
Winners:
1. Best Video Journalism from a Conflict Zone: Long Form. Anna Karenina Tolentino (Singapore), “Get Real: Escape from Marawi”
This film examines the fight against terrorism in the city of Marawi, Philippines after ISIS affiliated terrorists took control. The basis of the film is video footage filmed from mobile phones belonging to local residents, soldiers, and terrorists.
2. Best Video Journalism from a Conflict Zone: Short Form. Asaad Al-Zalzalee (Iraq), “ISIS Children”
This report sheds light on the lives of ISIS fighters’ families after Iraq’s liberation from terrorists. Women and children, accused of aiding and abetting in terrorist crimes, are detained in special camps created by the government.
3. Best Written Journalism from a Conflict Zone. Jason O’Brien (Ireland), “Special Dispatch from Inside Syria”
This report takes a look at those civilians trying to rebuild their lives after Islamic State fighters were pushed out of the majority of Syrian territories.
Khaled Alkhateb was working for RT Arabic as a freelance correspondent when he was killed in an ISIS shelling in the eastern suburb of Homs, Syria on July 30th 2017. In his reports, Khaled covered the fighting between Syrian government forces and terrorists. Khaled Alkhateb was 25 years old.
