Despite being informed of one journalist's pregnancy, the woman assailant shamelessly resorted to physical violence

Location: Kosovo, Prishtina

Date: April 3, 2024

Women Press Freedom voices deep concern over the recent assault on journalists Fjolla Hyseni and Lindita Berisha from Lajmi.net in Prishtina. The incident, captured on video and widely disseminated, shows the journalists being physically and verbally assaulted in public. It represents a disturbing escalation in violence against journalists, particularly underlined by the disregard for one of the journalist's pregnancy. We strongly denounce this egregious act and urge the authorities to launch a thorough investigation to ensure accountability and justice for the victims. We stand in solidarity with Fjolla Hyseni and Lindita Berisha and demand that those responsible for this despicable attack are held accountable.

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On April 3rd, Hyseni and Berisha were physically assaulted by a couple who attacked and insulted the journalists, initially due to a confrontation involving the journalists' taxi blocking their path. Despite knowing one journalist was pregnant, the woman attacker still physically harmed her. When the attackers saw they were being filmed by journalists, they became more aggressive.

The Association of Journalists of Kosovo has condemned the attack on journalists Hyseni and Berisha as extremely disturbing and a serious threat to the safety of journalists. Xhemajl Rexha, Chair of AJK, expressed deep concern over the unprecedented nature of the attack. "We are appalled by the assault on our colleagues and the severity of the incident. The journalists were simply doing their job by documenting an attack in a public space. We commend their professionalism in a hostile environment," said Rexha.

The Police and Prosecutor's Office has all the evidence to handle the case promptly and effectively. 

Women Press Freedom stands firmly in solidarity with Fjolla Hyseni and Lindita Berisha following the physical attack they faced. We demand that the competent institutions take urgent action against the perpetrators identified in the footage and treat attacks on journalists with the utmost seriousness and priority to set a precedent for the future.

Women Press Freedom is an initiative by The Coalition For Women In Journalism

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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