Ahmad Rafat wins press freedom award

Ahmad Rafat, deputy director of Adnkronos International (AKI) has won the Ilaria Alpi Television Journalism Award for Freedom of the Press. The Italo-Iranian journalist hit the headlines last week when he was barred access to the United Nations’ Food and Agriculture Organization’s global food summit,

Rafat, who has spent years writing about political and social issues in Iran, was seeking access to the summit on the opening day when Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad attended the conference. The FAO’s action resulted in a storm of protest from Italy and around the world and Rafat’s accreditation was restored. link

Rafat has worked in the Middle East and the Balkans and reports extensively on Iran.