Location: Algeria
Date: November 4, 2020

Available in: 🇸🇦  عربي

Journalist Abeer bin Rabah has been hospitalized due to high blood pressure causing internal bleeding, over threats from owners of a Facebook page that blackmails minors. The Coalition Women In Journalism is worried about her safety and the lack of measures to protect women journalists in Algeria.

Abeer conducted an investigative report about a Facebook page called “Banat Beladi”, revealed to be exploiting and blackmailing minors. Following her report, the blackmailers contacted Abeer with threats of physical assault. In a streamed video, Abeer revealed the misconduct of this page, stating that it should be banned, as well as explaining her aim to help girls subjected to blackmail.

Upon receiving these threats, the journalist was hospitalized for her condition. The medical examination showed that she is suffering from internal bleeding due to high blood pressure and was consequently put into intensive care. She remains in severe condition at the hospital.

Abeer is the chief editor of Nabaa press and writes for the Shihab Press news website. She covers a wide spectrum of social issues in Algerian society.

The Coalition For Women In Journalism is concerned for journalist Abeer’s safety and calls upon Algerian authorities to conduct a thorough investigation into the blackmailers, and to hold them responsible for their threats against the journalist. Women journalists are targeted around the world for their coverage. Respective states must take the responsibility to put assertive policies in place to guarantee the safety of journalists.

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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.

Follow us on Instagram @womeninjournalism and Twitter @CFWIJ. Our website is WomenInJournalism.org and we can be reached at press@womeninjournalism.org

The Coalition For Women In Journalism closely monitors the incidents in Turkey with great concern. Since March 8, Women's Day, police violence against women journalists increasingly continues in the country. As the coalition, we urge the Turkish state to provide a free environment for journalists. Following the news is our most fundamental democratic right to report. We demand the immediate release of our detained colleagues. Journalism is not a crime. Journalism cannot be prevented.

If you have been harassed or abused in any way, and please report the incident by using the following form.