Chad: Aristide Djimaldé Physically Assaulted by Police During Demonstrations
Location: Chad, N'Djamena
Date: September 17, 2022
Photo Credit:: Djimaldé
Journalist Aristide Djimaldé was physically assaulted by Chadian Police while covering an opposition political protest in the capital N'Djamena, on September 3, 2022. She was obstructed by police, beaten, and had her press card and phone confiscated while reporting. The Coalition For Women In Journalism (CFWIJ) condemns police brutality against the journalist and calls authorities to investigate and hold officers responsible. CFWIJ urges authorities to ensure the safety of journalists as they report and do their job.
Aristide was working for the weekly news website “Alwihda Info” when a plainclothes police officer approached her while she was filming a group of officers beating demonstrators. The police officer snatched her phone and erased everything including her contacts, messages, and recorded content, according to her. Then a group of uniformed police joined in and began hitting and whipping her on the back and arms for several minutes until a nearby woman managed to intervene and help her escape.
According to the journalist, the officers asked her if she was a journalist and after she confirmed “yes” and showed her press card, they confiscated her card and phone and dragged her to their car. Aristide refused to get into the car and managed to take back her phone and press card from the officers resulting in further beatings
She received medical treatment at a home nearby, as the neighborhood was cordoned off by the security forces and no one could leave the area. Due to major physical injuries and pain, she did not go to work for several days.
It is reported that Aristide was targeted by the police due to her closeness with The Transformers, a political party that opposes the ongoing dialogue on national inclusivity which provoked a tense political climate in the country. Her personal Facebook page and WhatsApp profile included a photo of the leader of The Transformers handing the national flag of Chad and surrounded by a large crowd of supporters.
The Coalition For Women In Journalism condemns the physical assault against the journalist. We urge authorities to respect the principles of press freedom in the country. We firmly believe that no journalist should face violence for doing their job. Journalists and the media are crucial to ensure transparency and accountability for government authorities. We firmly believe that no journalist should face violence for doing their job. Attacks on journalists by law enforcement should stop.
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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