Etilaatroz Won the Transparency International 2020 Anti-Corruption Award

By Murtaza Meraj

December 03, 2020

The Kabul-based newspaper, Etilaatroz, and its editor-in-chief, Zaki Daryabi, won the Transparency International’s Anti-Corruption Award for 2020. The award was presented to Mr. Daryabi in the 19^th International Anti-Corruption Conference (IACC) 2020 held virtually on December 2, in South Korea.

According to Transparency International’s announcement, Zaki Daryabi and Etilaatroz have been selected as the recipients of the award “for their tireless efforts in exposing major corruption scandals in Afghanistan, despite multiple challenges, threats, and limitations”.

Based on the Transparency International assessment, Zaki and Etilaatroz have a prominent role in challenging government corruption in Afghanistan, despite the extremely critical situation for independent journalists and free speech in the country.

“Operating on a financial shoestring, Etilaatroz provides hope and sends a clear message of courage, dedication and determination in the struggle to investigate, expose, and challenge corruption in Afghanistan”, Transparency International added.

Zaki reacted to the announcement on his Twitter account and wrote: “I am honored to accept the Transparency International’s 2020 Anti-Corruption Award. I dream of the day that Afghanistan is no longer among the most corrupt and the deadliest places for journalists in the world.”

The announcement of the award immediately turned to a top story and was covered massively not only by the mass media and social media in Afghanistan but also by the international media broadcasting/publishing in Farsi, like BBC Farsi, Independent Farsi, Iran International, Anadolu Agency, and DW.

Besides, various groups of the people and organizations – including the parliament members, former and current government officials, civil society activists, social media users, some of the Kabul-based embassies – reacted to the news and sent congratulatory messages on their social media accounts. Here are few of their messages:

• The United States’ Chargé d’Affaires to Afghanistan, Ross Wilson: “Congratulations to @ZDaryabi for winning Transparency International’s 2020 #AntiCorruptionAward. This is an international achievement for @Etilaatroz and for Afghanistan’s independent media and civil society. We are committed to supporting efforts to combat corruption and to strengthen this country’s free and vibrant media environment.”
• Embassy of Canada in Afghanistan: “Congratulations to journalist @ZDaryabi, and newspaper @Etilaatroz for their tireless work and fight against corruption in Afghanistan through the power of the pen.”
• Ilham Gharji, writer and researcher: “I am reading the reactions to the Transparency International’s 2020 #AntiCorruptionAward – received by Zaki Daryabi and the Etilaatroz newspaper – on Twitter. This level of reaction/coverage is less-precedented. Many [people and organizations] have received international awards for their valuable achievements over the last years but only a few of them received so much coverage/reactions.”
• Timor Sharan, adjunct professor at American University of Afghanistan: “he (Zaki Daryabi) and his team provide hope and sends a clear message of courage, dedication and determination in exposing corruption, in trying to make Afghanistan a better place.”
• Nargis Nehan, the former minister of Mines and Petroleum: “What a great news for Afghanistan. The most deserving and timely recognition. My sincere congratulations to @Etilaatroz and @ZDaryabi”.

Zaki Daryabi was among the four people shortlisted by Transparency International for the award on November 19. Botakoz Kopbayeva, the ex-vice rector for financial and economic affairs of Kazakh National Conservatory, Dolortuya Chuluunbaatar, a journalist from Mongolia, and Ana Gomez, ambassador and former MEP of Portugal, were three other candidates who were named for Anti-Corruption Award 2020 by Transparency International. Of them, Zaki Daryabi and Botakoz Kopbayeva were announced as the winners of the award on December 2.

Zaki founded Etilaatroz in 2012. Despite the financial challenges, the newspaper has been able to survive, grow, and turn to a leading and reliable media organization in Afghanistan. Yet, it has published over 40 investigative reports mainly on corruption in the government. Its contents are published in Farsi. In addition, the paper launched its English version in 2019 and its Pashto publication this year.