Mohammed Assaf Named 2014 MTV's Best Middle Eastern Act

Palestinian native Mohammed Assaf continues to find success as he follows up winning the 2013 Arab Idol title with an even more impressive win as the 2014 MTV European Music Awards Best Middle Eastern Act.

With his debut album, ASSAF, being released just last week, this Palestinian star managed to beat out fellow nominees, including Lebanese singer Jana, Saudi DJ/producer Omar Basaad, Moroccan singer Saad Lamjarred, and the Egyptian band Cairokee.

Assaf’s win marks the first time ever that a Palestinian has won an MTV European Music Award since its inception in 2007. By winning the award of Best Middle Eastern Act, Assaf has earned the honour of being eligible to add another trophy to his mantle, MTV’s Best Worldwide Act. In order to do that Assaf will be counting on fans worldwide to visit the MTV EMA website and vote for him.

Voting for Best Worldwide Act will close on October 29, and the final list of the 10 Worldwide Act nominees will be announced Thursday, October 30 on mtvema.com, giving fans the chance to vote for their favourite until November 8, with the final winner being announced at the award show, scheduled for November 9 in Glasgow, Scotland. We strongly encourage everyone to visit the site and vote, because he deserves to win over all the other nominees, perhaps not on a musical level, but rather for overcoming all the obstacles associated with trying to be heard out of Palestine.

Assaf, who has been named a Goodwill Ambassador for Peace for the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNWRA) for Palestine Refugees, released a video this week calling for the end of the blockade on Gaza, further exemplifying why he is an amazing Arab role model that deserves our respect, and could use our help.