Tajikistan: CFWIJ Condemns The Violent Attack On Nisso Rasulo In The Field

Location: Tajikistan
Date: February 28, 2018

Nisso Rasulo, a correspondent for Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty was attacked after performing one of her assignments. Nisso was part of a team that conducted a sting operation in a mobile market that sells second-hand and stolen phones. On the way out of the market, she was chased in her taxi. Goons of the market followed her car and blocked their way from moving away. They tried to break the car windows hitting on glass with belts. The attackers asked her and the cameraman to come out as they had recording proofs of what was going on in the mobile market in Dushanbe. The thugs only stopped after police intervention. CFWIJ condemns the violent attack on Nisso and her team. We demand that police apprehend those behind attacking her. No journalist should suffer such harassment while performing their duty.

Nisso was covering an assignment at a mobile market famous for selling stolen phones at a very cheap rate. When vendors at the market realized them as some outsiders who were recording, they rushed to stop them. Nisso along with her cameraman hopped on a taxi to run away. As the taxi was moving, a car from behind hit her taxi and another stopped and blocked their way from the front. The driver of the taxi instantly locked the car and didn't let the attackers open it. Then the scene became violent as the goons of that market started smashing glass windows with belts to get hold of recorded material.

The attackers wanted the cameraman who had all the recording of the shady business going on in the market. At this point, Nisso had called for police help already. The attackers also tried to attack the driver but thankfully he paid no heed to their threats. Fortunately, a policeman in uniform appeared. The officer asked the driver to let Nisso and her team out and checked their press credentials. That is when the thugs finally calmed down but still, one of them threatened Nisso and her team. He said that he would find them to take revenge. His anger was obviously about the recording that the journalist had.

The Coalition For Women In Journalism condemns the harassment and violent attack on Nisso Rasulo and her team. We demand that the police apprehend the goons who attacked the journalists. We urge law enforcement in Dushanbe to ensure press safety for every journalist in the field, especially women.

The CFWIJ strongly condemns the police brutality against journalists. We demand the immediate return of the press cards seized from the security forces. Policies to intimidate journalists should be abandoned, and journalism should be practiced under the criteria of freedom of the press.

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