Albania: CFWIJ Condemns Physical Assault On Besarta Demushaj
Location: Albania, Tirana
Date: February 12, 2022
Photo Credit: Safe Journalists
Journalist Besarta Demushaj, associated with Fax News, was assaulted by two men while pursuing a story in the capital city. Besarta was on site to investigate a tip she had received from a local resident on December 15, 2021, when she was locked inside a building as two men physically attacked her. The incident was caught on camera. A complaint was registered with the police, who claim that two suspects are under investigation.
The incident took place near Hoxha Tahsim Street, when a concerned citizen, Fatbardha Marina, who owns a shop in the locality tipped off the news organizations regarding potential property misdealings. According to Fatbardha, the police refused to intervene in the matter, causing serious security concerns in the area. Besarta was on location to investigate the incident when two men, who appeared to be involved in the case, arrived to halt any coverage. The property dealer and his brother in law trapped Besarta inside a building where, video evidence shows, they grabbed and kicked her.
Besarta received support from the press community. The Association of Journalists of Kosovo issued a statement in her support. “The Association of Journalists of Kosovo - AGK, stands in solidarity with the Albanian journalist community, at a time when attacks and obstruction to carry out their work have increased alarmingly,” it said.
Subsequently, a police complaint was registered against the perpetrators. The police have since been investigating the matter, and took the prime suspects in custody.
The Coalition For Women In Journalism condemns the attack on the Besarta Demushaj and urges state authorities as well as media companies to ensure safety of their journalists when in the field. Those who were responsible for the attack on Besarta should be brought to account in order to discourage such attempts to intimidate journalists into silence and to sustain press freedom in the country.
The Coalition For Women In Journalism is a global organization of support for women journalists. The CFWIJ pioneered mentorship for mid-career women journalists across several countries around the world and is the first organization to focus on the status of free press for women journalists. We thoroughly document cases of any form of abuse against women in any part of the globe. Our system of individuals and organizations brings together the experience and mentorship necessary to help female career journalists navigate the industry. Our goal is to help develop a strong mechanism where women journalists can work safely and thrive.
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