FIRE Nominated for Index on Censorship Freedom of Expression Award

The Index on Censorship has chosen FIRE as one if its longlisted finalists for its #Index100 2016 Freedom of Expression Awards.

#Index100: Unveiling this year’s 100 global free speech heroes https://t.co/4Pdpt3Eq5S #IndexAwards2016

— Index on Censorship (@IndexCensorship) December 16, 2015

The awards “celebrate individuals or groups who have had a significant impact fighting censorship anywhere in the world,” in four categories: arts, campaigning, digital activism, and journalism. FIRE was nominated in the campaigning category, “for activists and campaigners who have had a marked impact in fighting censorship and promoting freedom of expression.”

Other nominees include France’s satirical weekly Charlie Hebdo, Chinese contemporary artist Ai Wei Wei, and professor Steven Salaita.

The short list of finalists will be announced January 19, 2016. Winners will be honored at a London gala in April and then join the Index on Censorship’s fellows program, where they will “receive dedicated training and support.” According to the Index, the goal of the fellowship program “is to help winners maximise their impact, broaden their support and ensure they can continue to excel at fighting free expression threats on the ground.”

FIRE is delighted to have been nominated among such an esteemed group!