More than 500 guests honoured the remarkable achievements and contributions of British Muslims, as well as those from non-Muslim backgrounds to society in central London.
However, the event also paid tribute to the innocent civilian Palestinians killed in Gaza.
Approximately 120 journalists and their teams were killed by Israeli forces, many of them losing family members in Gaza, yet they continue to persist in their mission to inform the world.
“This marks a sombre milestone in conflict history, with an extraordinary number of journalists killed in a short time,” remarked Ahmed J. Versi, Editor of The Muslim News, in his welcoming speech.
Additionally, according to the Coalition for Women in Journalism, 67% of all female journalists killed throughout 2023 were Palestinians. In recognition of these immense sacrifices, The Muslim News created the ‘Valour Award for Palestinian Journalists in Gaza.’ Versi presented the award to the Palestinian Ambassador to the UK, Husam Zomlot, on behalf of all journalists in the enclave.
Accepting the award, Zomlot said, “It is an honour to receive this award on behalf of real heroes, the Palestinian journalists who have heroically decided to convey to the world what is happening, and you know many have been killed.”
However, Zomlot was optimistic about the future. He expressed his hope for a free Palestine. “Out of the darkest moment comes the light and dawn, and it feels like dawn is about to break out. It feels like Palestine is about to be free, Jerusalem is about to be free, and Inshā’Allāh these wounds will heal, and the place will be peace, justice, and prosperity.”
The evening marked a remarkable milestone: the twentieth The Muslim News Award for Excellence, a major feature in the British Muslim calendar. When the awards were launched, it marked a significant moment as the first event organised by British Muslims to honour their contributions to British society.
The stories at the gala dinner were a counter-narrative to the numerous negative portrayals of Muslims and Islam perpetuated daily by the media. Despite all the challenges Muslims face – Islamophobia, attacks by politicians daily, and government and opposition looking at Muslims through the lens of extremism and terrorism, Muslims continue to put their best foot forward.
Muslims are the most generous group in the UK, annually donating more than four times as much to charity than the average Brit.
This was reflected in the deluge of nominations the Muslim News received for the award ceremony is a testament that despite negativity, Muslims continue to contribute to society.
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