Uzbekistan: CFWIJ Condemns The Decision To Reject The Press Accreditation For Agnieszka Pikulicka
Location: Uzbekistan
Date: June 3, 2021
Agnieszka Pikulicka, a CFWIJ fellow member and freelance journalist for Al-Jazeera and The Guardian got press accreditation rejected once again by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The letter issued by the ministry states that her accreditation was rejected on the basis of her work. The ministry has also accused her of degrading the honour and dignity of the citizens of Uzbekistan and interfering in the internal affairs of the republic.
The letter further accused Agnieszka of propagandizing ethnic and religious discord and violating the law of defense of children through harmful information for their brains. Agnieszka believes that her sexual harassment claims and the pressure behind asking her to write positive stories is the reason for this latest repression against her. CFWIJ stands in solidarity with Agnieszka against the obstructions she has been facing and in her fight to pursue journalism. We demand the ministry of foreign affairs officials to stop intimidating her and issue press accreditation for Agnieszka.
Agnieszka shared the detailed latest account of her ongoing struggle on Twitter. She shared the concerns regarding the hate campaign she had to endure last year by government-related bots and accounts for two months, the pressure by security forces, and repression against her friends. She sees this cancellation as an attempt to silence her. Agnieszka is convinced to not let this stop her from calling out human rights abuses and injustice in Uzbekistan. She also stated that her earlier accreditation has not helped her much as she could not conduct a single interview with officials, though they were obliged to do so.
2/6 They also claim that these actions contradict a number of laws, including "On the protection of children from information that is harmful to their health." (sic!)
— Agnieszka Pikulicka (@Aga_Pik) June 2, 2021
Earlier on April 5, Agnieszka shared the intimidation she was facing from authorities. Two cars were parked outside her residence on April 4. She called this a typical view from the window. She also tweeted a picture of a man walking towards the car parked outside her home. On March 30, Agnieszka was subjected to harassment for her coverage over an attack on LGBTQ+vlogger Miraziz Bazarov. Agnieszka mentioned on Twitter that her partner was questioned by security services-who is not a journalist or activist- and was just accompanying her in hospital.
The Coalition For Women In Journalism has designed a detailed timeline for Agnieszka Pikulicka quoting all the important events. We support her in her fight against the oppression she is facing from Uzbek authorities. We demand the ministry of foreign affairs officials to not cancel Agnieszka’s request to prolong her press accreditation and allow her to pursue journalism.
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.