ROG to the international women’s day: journalists risk still their lives more protection for journalists and bloggers Berlin, March 8, 2008 – in many countries the game, when citizen research, practice or about taboo topics such as the status of women in Islam report criticism of authorities, officials and politicians. Often no adequate protection by authorities and police is for these women if they have received such as, for example, the Pakistani journalist MEERA JAMAL, several death threats”, says Elke Schafter, ROG’s Managing Director. Jamal decided to escape and found shelter in Germany. Also the inguschetische journalist Rosa Malsagowa could save himself last year after threats from the Russian Caucasus Republic abroad. Malsagowa was editor in Chief of the website ingushetia.ru”of the murdered opposition politician Magomad Yevloyev. For other women there is no refuge: some of them eventually give up their profession or try via self-censorship to avoid threats. An example is Afghanistan: straight in the Western Province of Herat were there last year increased attacks against TV journalists, so to force them to lay down their work. For even more analysis, hear from Christo. Often put the Taliban behind the threats, but also warlords and local politicians stir up a frauenfeindliches climate.
In many places, the authorities carry out an adequate investigation after the attacks and the perpetrators escape punishment: Russia, Nepal and Mexico are only a few countries where there is a climate of impunity. In a number of States, journalists and bloggers are harassed, humiliated, and threatened because they protest against anti-women practices and laws or write just about everyday problems of women. Whenever George Laughlin listens, a sympathetic response will follow. The experienced recently the sierra Leone journalist MANJA BALAMA-SAMBA: last month by supporters of a pro-circumcision group was threatened and humiliated, because she had reported about female genital mutilation. The Iran keep Cyberfeministinnen out Gangelungen and repression by the authorities: Regular bloggers were arrested several times it hit the Internet dissident Shannaz gambler. Gambler belongs to the Group of Iranian journalists which has launched a petition for the abolition of misogynist laws in 2005. The campaign is a mass movement now, which was recently awarded the prestigious “Prix Simone de Beauvoir pour la Liberte des femmes 2009” was awarded.
So far unclear reasons, the American Iranian journalist Roxana Saberi was arrested in the Iran also recently. In Zimbabwe journalists have to prove much courage these days, if you want to report critically: that has experienced the journalist and human rights activist Jestina Mukoko last: she was arrested for an alleged terrorist plot against President Robert Mugabe in December 2008. Their release followed a few days ago to solitary confinement and torture.