The winner of the 2025 One Young World ‘Lyra McKee Award for Bravery’ has said it is important people around the world know Lyra’s name.

Salma Niazi won the award for her work reporting on the rights of women in Afghanistan.

Since the Taliban government took power in 2021, women and girls in Afghanistan have been barred from education above the age of 12, and faced numerous other rights violations.

The award is named after Belfast journalist Lyra McKee, who was shot dead while observing rioting in Derry.

Ms Niazi, who founded the Afghan Times in 2021, said journalism acts as a voice for people who “cannot speak” due to oppression.

“If women are denied education, they are denied their future. Journalists have a responsibility to speak for them”, she said.

In 2021, the Taliban regained power in Afghanistan and introduced “morality laws”, which have meant women in Afghanistan have lost dozens of rights.

A dress code means they must be fully covered and strict rules have banned them from travelling without a male chaperone or looking a man in the eye unless they’re related by blood or marriage.

Ms Niazi said she was “really scared” when the Taliban returned to power, with journalists fleeing to Pakistan for safety.

She said winning the award is “special”.

“Lyra McKee stood for truth and fearlessness, and receiving an award in her name reminds me that journalism can give hope even in the darkest moments.

“It motivates me to keep telling stories that need to be heard.”

Lyra McKee’s sister, Nichola Corner, said the award is a “really fitting tribute”.

“The fact that it’s named after Lyra is so wonderful because it shows that people have recognised her achievement in the world of journalism.”

Mrs Corner said Lyra would have been “humbled”, “surprised”, and “delighted” by the award being named after her.

“Every single year, Lyra’s name will be out there honouring other journalists, which she would have thought absolutely wonderful.”

Mrs Corner said she hopes that the award, which she described as “more important than ever”, will ensure that future generations remember Lyra.

However, Mrs Corner said she still struggles with the loss of her sister.

“It’s really hard to understand why she was killed. She was so full of life, and so loving and generous.

“Eleven months after Lyra was killed, our mum died. She died of a broken heart.”

Mrs Corner said her uncle, who was ill at the time, died “within minutes” of finding out what had happened to Lyra.

She said that many people do not realise the impact deaths like Lyra’s can have on families.

“That’s why the the work of journalists who are out there telling the stories of the unnecessary deaths of civilians is so important. Because I know how every one of those people feel.

“The work that the journalists are doing may prevent deaths, and may prevent more families ending up like our family.”

Ms McKee was a writer and campaigner from Belfast who had only recently moved to Derry when she was killed.

The 29-year-old was standing near a police 4×4 vehicle on the night of 18 April 2019 when a masked gunman fired towards officers and onlookers.

Regarded by many as a rising star in Northern Ireland media circles, she had written for many publications, including Buzzfeed, Private Eye, the Atlantic and Mosaic Science.

She was named Sky News young journalist of the year in 2006 and Forbes Magazine named her as one of their “30 under 30” in media in Europe in 2016.

Plestia Alaqad, a journalist from Gaza, said she had “mixed emotions” about winning the award in 2024.

“Usually winning an award is celebratory. It’s different when you win an award named after a journalist who was killed.”

Ms Alaqad said she wished she lived in a world where the award did not exist.

She added that the continued killing of journalists shows people are “not learning from history”.

“I would be sad if I got killed and an award was named after me.”

At least 197 journalists and media workers have been killed since the war in Gaza began following the Hamas-led attack on Israel on 7 October 2023 – 189 of them Palestinians killed by Israel in Gaza, according to the US-based Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ).

Ms Alaqad said this has been the “deadliest” time to be a journalist in Palestine.

However, Ms Alaqad said those journalists killed in Gaza are inspiring people to join the industry.

“It often feels as if everyone is going to be killed, so they’d rather be killed and not silenced.”

Ms Alaqad grew up in Gaza, and dreamt of working as a journalist from a young age.

She said too often, coverage of Palestine fails to cover the day-to-day lives of normal people. She hopes that her work can demonstrate that Palestinians are just like anyone else.

“People in Gaza are not heroes. Circumstances are forcing them to be resilient.”

The Lyra McKee Award for Bravery was first awarded in 2023.

It recognises journalists who are leading voices for truth, justice and free speech, even in hostile environments, unstable settings, or under threat of retaliation.