24sata newspaper reporter Tea Paponja was physically assaulted in Marulic Square in Zagreb after the LGBTIQ+ Pride. The Coalition for Women In Journalism (CFWIJ) condemns the physical violence as well as this expression of hatred towards the LGBTIQ+ community. We demand Croatian officials apply criminal enforcement to the perpetrators. The journalists must do their job safely and freely.

Journalist Sulome Anderson has been at the receiving end of vicious online attacks over the past two years. The trolling is especially with regards to her dispute with digital magazine Grayzone. While it is true that Sulome did make some mistakes in the process, she has repeatedly corrected herself and held true to journalistic principles. She took down and apologized for the factual errors that she made in two of her tweets. However, the attacks have remained incessant and personal and have not ceased.

Valeria Kostyugova, an independent analyst and editor of the Belarusian Yearbook, is in detention after authorities searched her residence on June 30. The case and charges against Valeria have yet to be confirmed. Her husband was eventually released, but she remains in custody at a detention center on Akrestsin Street. Reportedly, the raid on her apartment was carried out by KGB authorities (State Security Committee of the Republic of Belarus). CFWIJ condemns the harassment against the journalist and demands state authorities release her from unwarranted detention. The impediments to the free press in Belarus are alarming. The current government must end its targeting of independent journalists and human rights activists.

Glafira Zhuk, a journalist associated with Narodnaya Volya, was released after 30 days in detention. During her detention, including two days in solitary confinement, she was not allowed to shower and only let outside once. The court convicted Glafira for a social media post she shared while covering a case. Judicial authorities deemed her a participant in the mass protest. Glafira had to spend her 20th birthday in prison at Akrestsin Street. The journalist revealed after her release that the cells were overcrowded and female prisoners were only allowed to walk for 20-30 min. CFWIJ condemns the unjustified detention of Glafira. We are dismayed by the journalism faculty’s expulsion of Glafira following her release.

Several women journalists associated with different newspapers and media organizations held a protest in the capital, Islamabad, on June 26. The demonstration was organized to denounce the unjustified layoffs and prolonged delays in salary payments. The women journalists demanded immediate payment of pending wages by the media companies.

Journalist Natallia Kazei was forced to leave Belarus for Germany with her family after she was threatened with a criminal case by her employer organization and state broadcaster ONT. Journalists at the ONT called a strike before the presidential elections following which they were threatened by state officials including new president Alexander Lukashenko. Several journalists have been called in for interrogation since and now face a possible criminal charge for speaking up against the unfair practices at the Belarusian state media.

Journalist Greeshma Kuthar was removed from her journalistic role at the Firstpost by the management at her employer firm. No reason was given regarding the sudden decision. Greeshma has spent three years at the company helping it in community engagement and broader coverage of national issues. Greeshma tried to get in touch with the management regarding the abrupt decision but did not receive a response regarding the matter.

Several Palestinian women journalists were brutally targeted while covering the demonstrations held in Ramallah on June 28. Protests turned violent as the crowd demanded an independent investigation into the killing of activist Nizar Banat. Reportedly, security forces brutally assaulted several demonstrators, including several women journalists. Shaza Hammad, Najla Zaitoun, Fayhaa Khanfar, Saja A-Alami, and Fateh Alwan were chased and attacked along with several others.