The announcement of this grant, given by the "Rabat" Observatory for observation, monitoring and evaluation, headquartered in Al Quds, comes within the framework of the protection of journalists and media professionals and of their sources of information.
It also falls within the framework of the Bayt Mal Al Quds Acharif Agency's prerogatives, under the Al Quds Committee, as a social institution working to protect and preserve the civilizational legacy of the Holy City, cradle of the three monotheistic religions.
The launch ceremony of the grant was also marked by the establishment of the jury of the "Al Quds Acharif" Prize for journalistic excellence in developing media for the benefit of students of press and media institutes in Morocco and Palestine, under its first edition named after the late journalist Shireen Abu Akleh.
Chaired by former Minister of National Education Abdallah Saaf, the jury includes a host of teachers and researchers in the field of media and press in Morocco and Palestine.
This grant is a tribute to the memory of journalists who lost their lives to defend the duty of the profession and the values of law and justice, the Director in charge of the management of the Agency, Mohamed Salem Cherkaoui, said on this occasion.
Throughout her professional career, late Shireen Abu Akleh has shown humanism and commitment to upholding the truth, he added.
According to Cherkaoui, the selection of the late journalist Shireen Abu Akleh's name for the first edition of the "Al Quds Acharif" Prize for Journalistic Excellence aims at providing journalists in Al Quds and Palestine with the techniques and skills of journalism work.
He also stressed the high solicitude of HM King Mohammed VI for this institution and the direct supervision by the Sovereign of its action, which has enabled the establishment of initiatives and innovative projects for the benefit of the Al-Quds population.
For his part, Palestine's ambassador in Rabat Jamal Al Shobaki reaffirmed the leading role played by the Al Quds Committee, under the leadership of HM the King, for the defense of the sacred values of the Ummah.
The selection of the name of late Shireen Abu Akleh for the 2022 edition of this award is part of the constant support for the Palestinian people and their just causes, he added.
The Palestinian diplomat also called on the media and journalists to convey the truth about the conditions in Palestine, pointing out the need for unwavering solidarity in support of the Palestinian people and cause.
The "Al-Quds Acharif" Prize for Journalistic Excellence was launched in February for undergraduate and graduate students of the Higher Institute of Information and Communication (ISIC) and the Department of Information at Al-Quds Acharif University.
The award aims to encourage research and studies related to the Holy City and to raise awareness of the Palestinian cause among the younger generations.