Albania: CFWIJ Condemns the Police Attack Against Journalist Sonila Musai
Location: Albania, Tirana
Date: February 8, 2022
Ora News journalist, Sonila Musai was violently dragged away by police while she was covering a protest in Albania’s capital, Tirana. Despite being identified as a journalist, she was arbitrarily dragged away. The Coalition For Women In Journalism (CFWIJ) condemns police’s violent behavior towards press members. We call on authorities to stop attacking journalists, particularly women and create a safe working environment.
Sonila Musai was covering a protest of residents of “5 Maji” neighborhood in Albania’s capital Tirana, when she was violently dragged away by police officers.
Except for her press ID, Sonila was wearing an Ora News vest making her very easily identified as a journalist.
She told Ora News that two police officers asked her to leave even though she did not cross the safety perimeter.
“ We face attacks every day. The behavior of IKMT’s (National Inspectorate of Territorial Defense) members is unforgivable. I was exercising my duty, I was easily identified by what I was wearing and my ID,” she said.
Sonila explained that she was there for hours before she was put away.
“It is scary when the state attacks journalists,” she said.
This is not the first instance of mistreatment of Sonila by state officials.
On February 17, 2020, Sonila Musaj filed a harassment complaint against Aurel Boriçi, a municipality employee. Aurel reportedly prevented Sonila from interviewing the Mayor of Tirana. He hugged her forcefully and attempted to intimidate her to deter her from conducting the interview. Sonia had, rightly, termed Aurel’s behavior unacceptable and sexist.
Other cases were also reported by women journalists mistreated by the police in the country.
In November 2021, journalist Anila Hoxha and her cameraman were almost killed when a police officer pushed them into an abyss as they approached prominent businessman Ruzhdi Hoxha’s murder site. Anila and her cameraman were reporting on the murder investigation and were at the site on Dajti mountain, where Ruzhdi Hoxha’s body was found in order to prevent them from filming the ongoing investigation. Anila and her cameraman fortunately managed to escape death and were pulled up from the edge by others on site. The abusive police officer was dismissed after the attack was widely criticized.
CFWIJ condemns Albanian state authorities' violations against women journalists while on duty. The attack against journalists is a direct attack to freedom of speech and democracy in Albania. We urge the local authorities to not only stop violating journalists' rights but to also ensure to protect them and create a safe and conducive environment while reporting. Journalism should be practiced under the criteria of freedom of the press.
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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