Pakistan: Somiayah Hafeez Released After Unjust Detention Amid Baloch Protest Coverage

The detention of Somiayah Hafeez is not an isolated incident in Pakistan; earlier this month, the residence of Baloch journalist Tahira Baloch was raided in Quetta

Location: Pakistan, Islamabad
Date: December 20, 2023

The Coalition For Women In Journalism and Women Press Freedom welcomes the release of Pakistani journalist Somiayah Hafeez. Hafeez's arrest, while covering the Baloch protest in Islamabad, was a blatant infringement on press freedom and a disregard for the crucial role of journalists in society. This incident underscores the ongoing risks and threats to journalists in the region, exemplified by previous threats to other journalists like Tahira Baloch. We recognize the imperative need for more Baloch women journalists on the ground, despite the evident dangers and demand that their rights be unequivocally protected. Journalists like Hafeez, who bravely report on public interest issues and human rights violations, are indispensable for a well-informed society.

Somiayah Hafeez, a Pakistani journalist, was unjustly detained by police in Pakistan’s capital Islamabad late at night on Wednesday while reporting on a long march by Baloch protestors. 

The Baloch protest, led by women to voice against enforced disappearances in Balochistan, symbolizes a critical struggle for human rights. Hafeez, reporting from the ground, shed light on these significant issues facing one of Pakistan’s most marginalized communities. Her arrest was not only unjust but also a stark indicator of the challenges faced by journalists, particularly women, in Pakistan.

Hafeez’s swift release, which came on Thursday evening, is a positive development that highlights the significance of press freedom and the critical role of journalists in bringing forth the issues impacting marginalized groups. The journalist was reporting the long march on the ground, which began its journey from Turbat, a city in Balochistan — one of Pakistan’s most under-developed provinces — and headed towards the capital city to demand the release of their people who, the protestors said, have been abducted by the state, particularly the country’s military.

The Baloch people have long been protesting against state brutality towards the community. Time and again, they have taken to the streets, raised their voices seeking redressal to their decades-long grievances, which no government in the country has been able to address. Balochistan’s history is marred with violence, insurgencies, and injustice - with its people, who have stood against the human rights violations and unfairness of the state in their struggle to seek justice.

Hafeez was reporting the developments of the peaceful protests. It is important that authorities recognize the need to uphold journalists’ rights and acknowledge the significance of press freedom in the country. The Pakistani journalist was doing her job, reporting the events. To arrest her as she tried to fulfill her duty is unwarranted.

The incident is a stark reminder of the challenges journalists, particularly women journalists, face in an already stifling atmosphere for press freedom in Pakistan, where self-censorship is rampant. 

This is not the first time that a woman journalist in Pakistan has been arrested or threatened for their work. Earlier this month, unknown men forcibly raided the residence of Baloch journalist Tahira Baloch’s home in the city of Quetta in Balochistan. Even Hafeez, after being contacted by the CFWIJ, spoke about the threats that journalists in Balochistan have to face.

“Such raids seem to be conducted to send a message that anyone can be targeted. It sends a message out that none of us is safe and that it can happen to us as well, without a warrant,” she said.

She also spoke about the need for more Baloch women journalists reporting on the ground and how this can be challenging given the dangerous circumstances.

“At a time when we need more Baloch women journalists to report on the issues faced by their communities, such incidents will make it difficult for the inclusion of Baloch women in journalism and make anyone thinking of this vocation reconsider their decision,” Hafeez said.

The Coalition For Women in Journalism and Women Press Freedom previously documented threats to journalists in and from Balochistan, including the killing of Shaheena Shaheen Baloch and human rights defender Karima Baloch in Canada.

CFWIJ believes journalists should be able to report their stories without any fear or threat for doing their work and demand that their rights must be protected at all costs. Reporters like Hafeez, who report on issues of public interest and highlight human rights violations, must be protected, and their freedom must be safeguarded for a well-informed public and society.

At CFWIJ, we stand in solidarity with Hafeez and other persecuted journalists. We reiterate our commitment to advocating for the rights of women journalists and all professionals in the journalism industry who face adversity while pursuing the truth. We demand continued efforts to create an environment where they work without fearing reprisal and arbitrary arrests.

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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