In the memory of the late assassinated journalist Samir Kassir in June 2005, The Samir Kassir’s Prize for Press Freedom 2008 was given this year to a Lebanese and a Palestinian journalist.
Nayla Khalil, 30 years old Palestinian Journalist won the prize due to her article about the Palestinians “ Palestinians are paying the price of the hated and political detentions”. As for the 25 years old Lebanese journalist Marwan Harb, the Lebanese university student was awarded for his University theses “ Shehabism and the creation of a modern state in Lebanon.” Khalil wone a prize of 15000 Euros and Harb was rewarded with a 10000 Euros.

The ceremony was held in the presence of many public figures such as the Communication Minister Marwan hamadeh, Patrick Laurent head of the Delegation of the European Commision in Lebanon, Mp Elias Attallah, and former MP Nassib Lahoud along Samir kassir’s wife and president of the Foundation Giselle khoury.

Ambassador Laurent gave a speech after a minute of silence and respect to the late lost souls of the Lebanese martyrs. Later Laurent expressed his pleasure that Lebanon has recovered his institutions and has hope for national reconciliation.

On the other hand, The European Commission thought it best to promote the human right and the freedom of speech by increasing the number of countries qualified for this award. The 2008 prize was open to 17 countries: Algeria, Bahrain, Egypt, Iraq, Israel, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Libya, Morocco, the Palestinian Territories, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Syria, Tunisia, the United Arab Emirates, and Yemen.

The Samir Kassir Award for the freedom of the press, named after the journalist who was assassinated on June 2, 2005, were awarded to Khalil and Lebanese student Marwan Harb today. Kassir, a prominent anti-Syrian journalist and co-founder of the Democratic Left movement, was killed in a car bomb near his home. A Christian of Palestinian origin who held Lebanese and French nationality, Kassir was an editorial writer for the leading An-Nahar newspaper.