Nearly 400 gathered last night at the Royal Institution in London to join Index on Censorship at their annual Freedom of Expression Awards.
The event champions heroes of free speech: from websites promoting free dialogue, to lawyers fighting for human rights issues, to playwrights and artists. The evening was hosted by Jonathan Dimbleby, with contributions from Booker prize-winning novelist Howard Jacobson and Sir Tom Stoppard.
Ziyad Marar addresses attendees at the Index Freedom of Expression Awards 2011
In keeping with our desire to be a real champion for authors, SAGE were lead sponsors of the 2011 Freedom of Expression Awards. Other award sponsors were the Guardian, Google, Bindmans, and the Economist.
In his opening remarks, Global Publishing Director Ziyad Marar addressed the room on SAGE’s own experiences of supporting authors’ rights to free expression: from David Nutt who in 2009 was sacked from his position as chairman of the UK Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs for a publication in the Journal of Psychopharmacology comparing the dangers of ecstasy to horse-riding; to Barbara Maines whose ‘No Blame’ educational method was viewed in 2006 as a highly controversial approach to tackling bullying. Ziyad spoke of the many restrictions faced by authors around the world, as did others through the evening. As many commented, the work Index does to campaign for and support those around the world fighting for free expression is critical.
It was an emotionally charged evening, with some very deserving winners taking to the stage. For those who were not there in person, there were moving tributes, including a video message from the wife of missing Chinese lawyer Gao Zhisheng. She said, “I appreciate your support for Gao, and I hope it will help protect his safety.”
Egyptian journalist Ibrahim Eissa, described as a “one-man barometer of Egypt’s struggle for political and civic freedom”, was cheered and hailed as a hero for his independent journalism through the recent Egyptian uprising. He said, “I will stand in Tahrir Square, in the very same place where Egyptians died for freedom, and I will tell them: “I dedicate this ‘Index’ Award to you”.”
Read more about all the winners
SAGE Connection 