Journalist Souad Mekhennet receives the 2018 Ludwig Börne Prize

Journalist Souad Mekhennet, a German national of Moroccan origin, received on Sunday in Frankfurt the 2018 Ludwig Börne Prize, one of the most esteemed literary prizes across German-speaking countries.

The Washington Post National Security Reporter becomes the first Arab and Muslim journalist to win the award.

Mekhennet won in 2017 the Daniel Pearl Award for courage and integrity in journalism.

The Ludwig Börne Foundation honors outstanding achievements in essay, criticism and reportage.

It selected television presenter Maybrit Ilner as a juror for this year’s prize. She said of her choice to award Mekhennet with this year’s honor: «Mekhennet combines great courage, clear reasoning and genuine passion. The child of immigrant workers became an investigative reporter of international acclaim. Discrimination, arrogance and hypocrisy make her just as angry as it once did Ludwig Börne».