What US Mentioned On Pulitzer-Successful Journalist Being Stopped At Delhi Airport

Sanna Irshad Mattoo has reportedly been placed on a no-fly record by the Jammu and Kashmir police. (File)

Washington:

The USA is conscious of stories of Pulitzer-winning Kashmiri journalist Sanna Irshad Mattoo allegedly being prevented from travelling to the nation, a State Division official has mentioned.

Sanna Mattoo had on Tuesday mentioned she was stopped on the IGI Airport in Delhi from flying to the US to acquired the celebrated award.

“We’re conscious of the stories of Ms Mattoo being prevented from travelling to the US and are monitoring these developments intently,” State Division Deputy Spokesperson Vedant Patel advised reporters at his every day information convention.

“We’re dedicated to supporting press freedom. And because the secretary has famous, a shared dedication to democratic values, together with the respect for the independence of the press, is a bedrock of the US-India relationship,” he mentioned.

“However I haven’t got every other specifics to supply… we’re monitoring this intently,” Patel mentioned in response to a query.

Mattoo, a contract photojournalist, was a part of a Reuters crew that received the Pulitzer Prize for function images for his or her protection of the COVID-19 pandemic in India.

In a press release, the Committee to Shield Journalists urged Indian officers to let Mattoo journey to the US to attend the Pulitzer awards ceremony.

“There isn’t any cause why Kashmiri journalist Sanna Irshad Mattoo, who had all the suitable journey paperwork and has received a Pulitzer–one of the crucial prestigious journalism awards–ought to have been prevented from touring overseas,” mentioned Beh Lih Yi, CPJ’s Asia programme coordinator, in Frankfurt, Germany.

“This choice is bigoted and extreme. Indian authorities should instantly stop all types of harassment and intimidation towards journalists masking the scenario in Kashmir,” Beh mentioned.