Elif Kayi (left) at the awards ceremony with fellow honorees from Chad and France
Ms Elif Kayi, an alumna of the 8th ASEF Journalists’ Colloquium, received the 3rd International Freedom of Speech Prize (Prix de la Parole Libre) for her article “Not every Turk is born a soldier”. The article was published in German daily Berliner Zeitung, and tells the story of young Turks who escape the military service which is compulsory in their country.
The Prize was founded by the Club de la Presse Marseille-Provence-Alpes du Sud in 2007, partnership with the Reporters Sans Frontieres (Reporters Without Borders). It is a tribute to the journalists who continue to pursue the truth and freedom of speech. The Prize comprises five categories: written press, audiovisual, photo, press drawing and online information.
Ms Kayi specialises in covering issues related to migration, religion, Islam and Turkey, as well as anti-Semitism and racism. She contributes to many European publications, such as Eurotopics, L’Arche and Neues Deutschland. In 2009 she won the European Award for Young Journalists.
ASEF extends its warmest congratulations to Ms Kayi for her great acheivement.