Syrian Kurdish reporter wins distinguished journalism award

ERBIL (Kurdistan 24) – A reporter based in the embattled Syrian city of Qamishlo (Qamishli) received the David Burke Distinguished Journalism Award on Wednesday for extraordinary bravery and journalistic integrity in his ongoing coverage of the war in Syria for Voice of America’s (VOA) Kurdish language service.

The US-government linked US Agency for Global Media, which operates state-run media outlets, announced that Faheem Omer, known as Zana Omer, was being recognized as a seasoned war correspondent who has repeatedly put his and his family’s life on the line for his work. 

“I was honored to have received this award. It has a special meaning for me, for someone who works with an international media outlet in his local language to report the sufferings of the war victims, people who have faced ISIS attacks and now attacks from Turkey,” Omer told Kurdistan 24 in an interview.

Since starting work for VOA in 2014, Omer was arrested covering pro-democracy rallies in Damascus, escaped a kidnapping by an armed pro-Assad group, and forced to flee his home, which was destroyed in a 2016 double bombing claimed by the Islamic State.

In the attack, 44 civilians were killed. Omer, his wife, and two sons were injured and his residence was completely demolished.

Despite his own hardships, he continued to put “immense time and effort” into providing regular reports to VOA “with information that was not available anywhere else,” the award announcement read.

“During recent events in northern Syria, under extremely precarious circumstances, including the destruction of his equipment from bombings, Omer’s reporting was never interrupted and remained central to VOA’s coverage from the region,” the USAGM said.

“I can’t think of anyone else that is more deserving of this award than Zana Omer,” said VOA Director Amanda Bennett. “His courage, determination and dedication to the mission of the Voice of America has been exemplary and his contribution to our programming unparalleled.”

Omer, who was not able to join the award ceremony in Washington, addressed the crowd in a video statement in which he dedicated his award to his fellow journalists who lost their lives reporting on the fight against “ISIS terror and [the] recent Turkish offensive.”

Omer told Kurdistan 24, “It has been an honor for me to report the bravery of the fighters who fought ISIS, and now face attacks from Turkey.” 

“As a journalist, I myself have been a victim of the conflict, I have had that experience, after [surviving] two explosions,” he continued. “I am happy to receive this award, and I would like to dedicate it to almost 25 journalists who lost their lives on the front line against ISIS and Turkish attacks.”

VOA’s Kurdish language service reaches its audience on radio, television, and online. The USAGM presents the David Burke Distinguished Journalism Awards annually to recognize “courage, integrity and professionalism of journalists working for each of its five networks.”

Editing by John J. Catherine