The Marie-Ange Garrigue Prize: Sherwan Sherwani’s Fight for Freedom
Diary Marif
Vancouver-based Kurdish writer**
Diary Marif
Receiving the Marie-Ange Garrigue Prize was not just a personal milestone, but a moment that drew my attention away from myself and toward the deeper cause it represents. This recognition matters to me not because of individual achievement, but because it points to the story, the struggle, and the voice of Sherwan Sherwani.
Before expanding on that meaning, it is important to explain what the award represents, why it was granted, and how it connects to something far greater than any personal honour.
During an awards ceremony in Toronto on Nov. 28, I received PEN Canada’s 2025 Marie-Ange Garrigue Prize. According to PEN Canada, the prize recognizes a Canadian citizen or institution that provides significant help to an imperilled writer or journalist overseas.
The jury stated that their decision was based on sustained efforts, since late 2020, to draw international attention to the grave situation of Kurdish journalist Sherwan Sherwani and four other imprisoned Kurdish reporters in Iraqi Kurdistan.
“Receiving the Marie-Ange Garrigue Prize was not just a personal milestone, but a moment that drew my attention away from myself and toward the deeper cause it represents”
Who is Sherwan Sherwani?
Sherwan Sherwani is a Kurdish journalist who consistently has defended marginalized voices and exposed injustice. He stood against corruption, nepotism, and violence, using his journalism to amplify the rights of vulnerable communities. His work empowered ordinary people and challenged powerful systems that sought to silence them.
Sherwani has been imprisoned since October 2020, initially accused of espionage, in a case widely criticized as politically motivated. Despite being due for release in September 2023, he received successive additional sentences in July 2023 and August 2025, keeping him in prison based on allegations his lawyer says are false and intended to silence his journalism.
From the day of his imprisonment, I committed myself to supporting Sherwani through writing, advocacy campaigns, and online seminars. This commitment was never about recognition; it was rooted in the belief that he deserved unwavering support for a life devoted to others and for becoming a voice for those who had been silenced. Beyond activism, he is also a trusted friend who understands the true meaning of loyalty and solidarity.
Before I was informed about the award by PEN Canada, I was facing a deeply difficult period in my home country while caring for my mother, who had been diagnosed with cancer, and mourning a family loss. In that uncertain moment, when I did not know if or when I could return to Canada, the message announcing the 2025 Marie-Ange Garrigue Prize arrived. It became a rare moment of light during a dark time and strengthened my resolve to return and continue the work with renewed purpose
The day before the ceremony, friends in Toronto warned me about the severe cold and snowfall. I told them I would come regardless of the weather, because this moment was never about me; it was about Sherwani and the value of his life and work. It was something I could not ignore, as it represented a responsibility far greater than personal comfort.
My excitement about the award was not rooted in personal recognition, but in what it represented for Sherwan. It was especially meaningful that an international, non-Kurdish organization chose to highlight the restrictions on freedom of expression in the Kurdistan Region. For many years, the realities faced by critical journalists have received limited attention in Western media. PEN Canada’s recognition drew attention to these concerns, and this kind of international visibility is often met with discomfort by authorities because it challenges established narratives.
During the awards ceremony in Toronto, I called Sherwani because he embodies the true meaning of this recognition, and he inspired many, including me. He has paid an extraordinary price for defending freedom of expression in Kurdistan, enduring imprisonment, harassment, and sustained pressure, yet his voice remains unbroken.
In one of his most powerful messages from prison, Sherwani said:
“I am not broken. Rather, it is those who desperately oppose my will, resolve, and vitality who are truly broken.”
These words remind us that real power does not reside in armies or wealth, but in the courage to speak truth, even when that truth must travel through prison walls.
From now on, I will continue to support Sherwani and other freedom seekers in Kurdistan and beyond. The award has given me a greater responsibility to advocate not only for Kurds, but also for other marginalized communities in my home country, in Canada, and elsewhere. Sherwani’s story is no longer just a Kurdish story; it is a universal one, and every defender of freedom should stand with him and raise their voices in his support.
As a Kurdish-Canadian journalist, I feel a moral obligation to seek international solidarity. The work of Voices in Exile is crucial in defending press freedom, and I urge organizations committed to freedom of expression to take action on Sherwani's behalf. Your support can bring hope not only to him, but also to countless others silenced by repression.
On the day of the ceremony, I spoke with my family about my mother’s health and was relieved to learn she was improving since her diagnosis. I entered the hall with renewed hope — to hear good news about her and to receive an award that represents five years of tireless effort in support of Sherwani. The award reminded me of a simple lesson: steady drops of water can carve stone.
Every voice matters, and every act of advocacy carries the power to create change. We must not stop, and we must not give up, until freedom is achieved. I say again: Sherwan will be free. His captors may confine his body, but they cannot imprison his mind, his integrity, or his light. History will remember him as a hero, and those who silenced him as enemies of freedom, justice, and humanity.