Afghan Journalist Salma Niazi Wins 2025 Young Journalist Award

Salma Niazi, Editor-in-Chief of The Afghan Times, has been named “Young Journalist of the Year 2025” by the One Young World Summit, alongside journalists from India and Peru.

The summit praised Niazi for her reporting on social, cultural, and women’s rights issues in Afghanistan, describing her work as a symbol of resistance and a commitment to truth under challenging conditions.

The statement also noted that Niazi, who fled Afghanistan in 2022 and continued her work in Pakistan, is now based in Ireland. She collaborates with a team of journalists and photographers inside Afghanistan who work in secrecy.

According to the summit, Niazi has launched initiatives including the Open Mic podcast and two special magazine editions focusing on Afghan women, covering topics such as food insecurity and women’s voices. These projects have inspired a new generation of Afghan journalists worldwide.