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On the occasion of International Women's Day, the Index on Censorship recognized Azeri journalist Khadija Ismayilova among eight women "who fought for freedom of expression in the last year," reports the Radio Liberty site.

The statement of the organization read that Ismayilova has stood up for freedom of expression when it was not the easy or popular thing to do, against fierce opposition and often at great personal risk.

The Radio liberty notes that the journalist is an author of several investigative reports exposing corruption inside Azerbaijan's ruling elite.
Their publication by RFE/RL's Azerbaijani service in 2012 unleashed an ongoing defamation campaign against Ismayilova that has included online harassment, physical threats, interrogations and false accusations of espionage in the country's pro-government press.

Meltem Arikan, a writer from Turkey; Anabel Hernandez, a crusading journalist from Mexico; and Jillian York, Director of Freedom of Expression at the Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF) were also recognized for their courageous contributions to freedom of speech.

In March 2012, Khadija Ismayilova, "Radio Liberty" journalist, was subjected to blackmail and threats while conducting investigation on the secret business of Aliyev clan. She told this to the press declaring about the threats after which her intimate video record taken with a hidden camera appeared in the internet. Ismayilova was subjected to harassment by pro-governmental media in Azerbaijan, which accused her of "immorality." Independent experts and advocates have argued that the video has been taken by special services of Azerbaijan.