Location: Algeria
Date: November 19, 2020

Available in: 🇸🇦  عربي

Journalist Abeer Bin Rabeh was physically assaulted for the third time by owners of a criminal Facebook page that she exposed. The Coalition For Women In Journalism is alarmed by Algerian authorities' negligence against these attacks.

On November 18, Journalist Abeer was stabbed and her car crushed by the owners of a criminal Facebook page that blackmails minors. The journalist was hospitalized, needing 18 stitches in her leg. This assault followed another attack on the journalist the day before, where she was beaten by the same group. This is the third attack on the journalist by the same group affiliated with the Banat Beladi Facebook page.

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.

On November 4, The Coalition For Women In Journalism released a statement calling for an immediate investigation as well as protection of the journalist, following reports that the she 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.

Abeer added to CFWIJ “I filed several reports to the police and asked for protection, not only for me but for all journalists in my shoes. We need proper policies to ensure journalists’ safety”

Human rights defender and founder of the Algerian Feminists Association, Sarah Rezig, commented on the matter to CFWIJ “The authorities must open an in-depth investigation into the case, know all its clues, to arrest those involved in the extortion of minors, and to provide strict and sufficient protection for the journalist who has carried out her duty to uncover the criminals”.

Ahead of the UN’s 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence, the reports of women journalists being assaulted and threatened continue to escalate. The absence of policies and procedures to guarantee women journalists' safety is a fundamental demand that CFWIJ reiterates in its alerts and campaigns.

The Coalition For Women In Journalism urges Algerian authorities to arrest the perpetrators, conduct an extensive investigation, and take sufficient measures to ensure journalists’ safety. CFWIJ calls upon Algerian legislators to promptly effectuate policies that protect and ensure journalists' safety.

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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

Loujain announced a hunger strike on October 27, protesting the punitive actions against her in prison and her deprivation of basic human rights. Ahead of the Women20 summit in Saudi Arabia, a global campaign was launched calling for the release of Loujain and all prisoners of conscience in Saudi prisons.

Due to the hunger strike, Loujain appeared quite weak in court today, her voice trembling, while she shook uncontrollably, according to her sister Lina Al-Hathloul. Aliaa Al-Hathloul, Loujain’s second sister, expressed her relief that Loujain was able to present her defense despite the repetitive interruptions. Loujain’s case has been transferred to the Specialized Criminal Court for cases related to terrorism.

Loujain has been imprisoned since May 2018. Since June 6, Loujain hasn't contacted her family or sent them letters. Loujain’s family launched a social media campaign inquiring about her condition, calling upon the regime to either allow them to contact and visit her or to issue a statement clarifying her health condition. She is accused of receiving foreign funding to impose foreign agendas, attending international conferences and events, and other unfounded claims.

Loujain began her commitment activism in 2012 to demand women’s right to drive in Saudi Arabia. Coming from a progressive family, she received immense support from her father to freely campaign for women’s rights.

The Coalition For Women In Journalism has issued several alerts regarding Loujian’s health and mistreatment throughout her imprisonment. We call upon the Saudi authorities to end her suffering and release her immediately.

Loujain’s deteriorating health condition at the courthouse today is a representation of the actual face of the regime and its intimidation and repression of women’s rights. While The Coalition For Women In Journalism is relieved for the fact that Loujain appeared finally in court. We underline the burlesque nature of the charges against her and urge the Saudi judicial authorities to accelerate the process and to end this farce trial.

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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.