The Board and team of the Marie Colvin Journalists' Network (MCJN) would like to express their full solidarity and support to our member, Maha Hussaini, who has been subject to what we believe to be a smear campaign.

Maha is an experienced, respected journalist working under very difficult conditions in Gaza. Her bravery was rightly acknowledged by the International Women’s Media Foundation (IWMF) with its prestigious 2024 Courage In Journalism Award. We understand that Maha has been subject to a vicious campaign in which the Washington Free Beacon falsely accused her of supporting terrorism, and which led to IWMF rescinding the award with no prior communication with Maha. We are extremely disappointed that IWMF took this decision, and we remain concerned for Maha’s safety. 

The Marie Colvin Journalists’ Network believes in freedom of speech, and that journalists in Gaza should have the same rights to express themselves as elsewhere in the world.