Arbana Xharra

Arbana Xharra is a journalist from Kosovo. In 2015 she won the International Women of Courage Award from the US State Department.

 Work 

Arbana Xharra became a journalist in 2001. She worked for Koha Ditore, Kosovo's first independent newspaper, in 2006 and 2007. She wrote for Balkan Insight and is now editor-in-chief of Zëri.

Xharra writes about many public issues. In 2006 she investigated government expense reports and problems with financial management.  In 2007, she wrote about inflation and food shortages.  In 2010 she wrote a report about the finances of the state-run Telecom of Kosovo. 

In 2012, Xharra had legal problems.  She wrote a report about government corruption and about politicians' connections with local business.  The court decided that Xharra acted correctly. They said she followed the Code of Ethics for print media of Kosovo.

In 2012, Xharra investigated the increase of religious activity in the former Yugoslavia. She wrote about religious extremism and its effect on society. When she investigated Islamic extremists in Kosovo, she found connections with terrorist organizations. Xharra's report helped the government with the problem.  After the report, she received death threats.

 Awards 

Xharra won the UNDP Prize three times--in 2006, 2007, and 2008--for her articles on corruption in Kosovo. In 2012 she won a Balkan Fellowship for Journalistic Excellence and studied the changing attitudes towards Islam in Kosovo. In 2013 she won the Rexhai Surroi Award from the KOHA Group for an article on extremism.  She also won the Stirring Up Debate Award from INPO Ferizaj  for starting public discussion on religious extremism. In 2015 she won the US Secretary of State's International Women of Courage Award.https://www.usnews.com/news/articles/2015/03/05/state-department-honors-international-women-of-courage

 References 

 Other websites 

 2015 International Women of Courage Awards, U.S. State Department photostream on Flickr 
 Secretary's International Women of Courage Award (U.S. Department of State)

Category:Living people
Category:Journalists
Category:Women who received the International Women of Courage Award
Category:1981 births
Category:Kosovan politicians