New York, NY, March 6, 2024 … Today ADL (the Anti-Defamation League) honored Nuseir Yassin, an Israeli-Palestinian content creator, with the ADL’s prestigious Daniel Pearl Award for his work in building bridges of understanding between Jews and Muslims and for promoting peace and understanding across communities.
ADL presented the award to Nuseir Yassin during its 2024 Never Is Now Summit on Antisemitism and Hate. The award was presented by Imam Abdullah Antempli, who praised Yassin for his work bridging divides as a social media influencer and activist. Antempli received the award in 2022.
“Nas is well deserving of this incredible award,” Antempli said. “By reaching over 300 million people every month, he has transformed the way people connect both online and offline. This incredible young man and brilliant mind … is lighting a candle by teaching us to use these online tools, social media tools focusing in and zooming around the world and highlighting our differences as a source of enlightenment and learning.”
“Nuseir Yassin’s tireless efforts in bridging understanding between Jews and Muslims exemplify the spirit of the Daniel Pearl Award and its namesake,” said Jonathan Greenblatt, ADL CEO. “His work transcends borders, reminding us that peace and empathy can flourish even in the face of adversity. Nuseir’s commitment to dialogue and unity echoes Daniel Pearl’s legacy, and we honor both men by continuing to build bridges across communities.”
The ADL Daniel Pearl Award was established in 2004 by longtime ADL leaders George and Ruth Moss and their son, Richard, following the horrific murder of Wall Street Journal reporter Daniel Pearl in 2002 at the hands of antisemitic terrorists in Pakistan. The award honors his memory and commitment through his work to build cultural bridges and promote understanding.
Yassin got his start creating one-minute videos documenting stories of his trips around the world, and is now known globally across social media platforms where he has over 13 million subscribers on his YouTube channel and 67 million in total across all platforms. He is also Founder and CEO of Nas Company, where he brings people together in dialogue.
In the aftermath of Oct. 7, Yassin shared a post about his own identity as an Israeli-Palestinian, condemning Hamas's violence and voicing support for his home, Israel. As a creator, Yassin’s videos refuse to stick to the usual stark ‘us vs. them’ divisions that prevent real conversations.
In accepting the award, Nas said he dedicated it to “The Peacemakers,” the people “who are fighting for tolerance, for coexistence for long term peace.”
“It is not popular to call for peace, whether you’re a leader or a follower or a YouTuber. Especially at times of war,” he said, recalling the blowback he received after posting a message of co-existence with his Jewish business partner following Oct. 7. “Immediately after our message, I lost a million-dollar deal. I lost ten friends. And created ten million haters. That was the price I paid. And I was willing to pay it.”
Previous recipients of the ADL Daniel Pearl Award include Imam Abdullah Antepli, scholar and interfaith leader; Mohammed Al Samawi, Yemeni refugee and author; The Aladdin Project; journalist Henrique Cymerman; Spanish journalist Pilar Rahola; Rabbi Harold M. Schulweis, founder of Jewish World Watch; Robert Satloff, executive director of The Washington Institute for Near East Policy; Jeffrey Goldberg, journalist with The Atlantic; Maziar Bahai, filmmaker and human rights activist; and Thomas L. Friedman, columnist for The New York Times.
ADL is the leading anti-hate organization in the world. Founded in 1913, its timeless mission is “to stop the defamation of the Jewish people and to secure justice and fair treatment to all.” Today, ADL continues to fight all forms of antisemitism and bias, using innovation and partnerships to drive impact. A global leader in combating antisemitism, countering extremism and battling bigotry wherever and whenever it happens, ADL works to protect democracy and ensure a just and inclusive society for all.