A report about the plight of women who were having their online activity spied upon in Iran was named Report of the Year.
Journalists and filmmakers joined content creators and actors at the 13th Asian Media Awards in Manchester.
The awards celebrate achievements in a range of categories in journalism, investigations, TV, radio, stage, online and creative media.
The ceremony is supported by the University of Salford and took place at The Manchester Deansgate Hotel on Friday (October 31).
The report was presented by Head of Emerging Content, at Reach Plc, Lynda Moyo.
‘Woman, Life, Surveillance’ was reported by and Reha Kansara and produced by Ghoncheh Habibiazad for BBC News.
In the wake of Mahsa Amini’s death in September 2022, a wave of dissent unleashed in Iran culminating into what is now known as the Woman Life Freedom movement.
Mahsa was arrested and beaten by Iran’s morality police after allegedly failing to wear her hijab properly. She died whilst in police custody.
For the two-year anniversary, reporter Reha and producer Ghoncheh Habibiazad investigated how a steady stream of civil disobedience on social media and on the streets continues to be met with an even harsher clamp down.
They spoke to women in Iran who have had their online activity spied on by the authorities leading to arrests, threats and beatings.
The podcast and radio version of the report was featured in The Sunday Times and the Radio Times; and the esteemed Frontline Club in London organised a viewing of the short film.
