RAMALLAH, February 26, 2026 (WAFA) – The Palestinian News and Information Agency (WAFA) received the inaugural Media Professionalism Award from the Union of News Agencies of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (UNA) during UNA’s Ramadan forum in Jeddah on Wednesday, which celebrated its “Building Bridges Between Islamic Sects” initiative on its second anniversary.
The award was presented by the Secretary-General of the Muslim World League, Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulkarim Al-Issa, and UNA’s Director-General, Mohammad bin Abdurahman Al-Yami. Ambassador Hadi Shibli, Palestine’s permanent representative to the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, accepted the award on behalf of WAFA.
Al-Yami emphasized that the inaugural Media Professionalism Award, which WAFA won, aims to support and encourage news agencies in member states, strengthening international media standards rooted in responsibility and credibility while countering all forms of hate and Islamophobia.
Regarding the Palestinian News Agency's (WAFA) winning the inaugural award, he said that WAFA remains steadfast, providing daily reports and news services despite the ongoing violations by the Israeli occupation, which continues to deliberately kill and imprison Palestinian journalists in an attempt to prevent them from exposing its crimes, violations, and abuses, which are renewed daily.
The award comes within the framework of one of the most important joint initiatives between the Muslim World League and the Union of OIC News Agencies (UNA), namely the "Jeddah Charter for Media Responsibility," which was adopted during the international forum: "Media and its Role in Fueling Hatred and Violence.
The charter establishes a reference framework and legal basis for media ethics and practices and formally introduces UNA’s Media Professionalism Award, recognizing governmental, non-governmental, and individual media entities committed to ethical journalism.
Notably, UNA, which includes 57 member states of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, opened its first foreign office in Palestine at WAFA’s headquarters in Ramallah in March of last year.
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