On Friday evening, October 24, 2025, the winners of the thirdedition of the “Al-Quds Asharif Awards for JournalisticExcellence in Development Information were honored at BaitAssahafa in Tangier. The event was organized by the BaytMal Al-Quds Asharif Agency (BMAQ) in collaboration withthe Higher Institute of Information and Communication in Rabat and the Modern Media Institute affiliated with Al-QudsUniversity.
The winning entries in this edition—dedicated to the latejournalist and founder of the Maghreb Arab Press Agency, Mehdi Bennouna— spanned three categories: televisionreports, radio reports, and written journalism.
As in previous years, the judging panels were divided into twocommittees—one based in Morocco and the other in Palestine. They were chaired by Thaer Nassar, Director of the Master’sProgram in Digital Media and Communication at Al-QudsUniversity, and comprised a distinguished group of professorsand researchers in journalism and media from both countries.
In the written report category, Malak Abu Riah, a student fromAl-Quds University, was recognized for her report titled “BabAl-Maghariba: A Moroccan Memory Guarding Jerusalem and Al-Aqsa.” In the radio report category, Moroccan studentIkram Reda stood out with her report “Women’s Sufferingfrom the Water Crisis in the Gaza Strip,” while Palestinianstudent Shahd Al-Ruzzi was honored for “Education in Jerusalem: A Moroccan Imprint Connecting Two Peoples.”
In the television report category, Palestinian student RanaHadiya won with her piece “Occupied Workers.” This year, the Moroccan prizes for written reports and televisioninvestigations were not awarded.
On the same occasion, the Freedom of Press and Media in Palestine Grant, established by BMAQ in 2022, was presentedto the Modern Media Institute at Al-Quds University to fundmaster’s students’ graduation projects..
In his speech, the Director of BMAQ , Mohamed Salem Echarkaoui, urged journalism and media students across the Arab world and beyond to draw inspiration from the resilienceof the Palestinian model—to listen to its people and reflect on their successful experiences that give them the strength to coexist with their difficult reality despite hardships and challenges.
He emphasized that BMAQ, operating under the direct supervision of His Majesty King Mohammed VI, aspires to fulfill its commitments by implementing tangible programs and projects that benefit Jerusalem and its steadfast people from all backgrounds and affiliations.
He added that by awarding these prizes, the Agency seeks to promote a professional practice grounded in the coreprinciples of journalism established by the foundinggeneration. The choice of the late Mehdi Bennouna’s name for this edition, he noted, is symbolic of a generation of Moroccanjournalists who helped establish a journalism that respects itself and earns the respect of others.
For his part, the Ambassador of the State of Palestine to Morocco, Jamal Al-Shobaki, noted that the ceremonycoincided with the celebration of the World Day of Development Information. He praised the choice of Mehdi Bennouna’s name for this edition, recalling that Bennounawent to Palestine in 1928 to study at Al-Najah School, becoming one of the first Moroccan students in Palestine.
He emphasized that celebrating development information cannot be separated from the harsh political and humanitarianreality faced by the Palestinian people, noting that theirexperiences serve as a profound test of the value of words and the power of the media.
He also praised the steadfast positions of the Kingdom of Morocco, under the wise leadership of HM King Mohammed VI, Chairman of the Al-Quds Committee, regarding Jerusalemand the Palestinian issue.
For his part, Mohamed Mehdi Bensaïd, Minister of Youth, Culture, and Communication, in the speech read on his behalf,highlighted that this award reflects BMAQ’s profoundrecognition of the media’s importance and its pivotal role in advancing the Agency’s noble objectives. He noted that theseefforts align with the vision of HM King Mohammed VI, Chairman of the Al-Quds Committee, which emphasizessustained support for the resilience of Jerusalem’s residentsand the preservation of the city’s cultural identity.
Mr. Bensaïd underscored the deep significance of the Palestinian cause in the hearts of all Moroccans, emphasizingthe Kingdom’s ongoing commitment to supporting the HolyCity, strengthening the resilience of its residents, and implementing impactful projects on its soil.
It is worth noting that the ceremony—attended by Younes Tazi, Governor of the Tangier–Tetouan-Al Hoceima region, along with journalists and civil society representatives fromMorocco and Palestine—featured the signing of a cooperationagreement between BMAQ and Bait Essahafa in Tangier. According to the agreement, Bait Essahafa will host the annual Al-Quds Asharif Awards for Journalistic Excellence in Development Information whenever the event is held in Tangier.
