Serbia/Kosovo: CFWIJ alarmed by threats against Zana Cimili and online targeting of her child

July 6 — As things become heated between Serbia and Kosovo, nationalists seem to be turning their attention to journalists, and women journalists are becoming a central target.

Journalist Zana Cimili received a chilling message underneath an Instagram post of her little child. It was by an unidentified person who wrote that they wanted to kill an Albanian, even if it meant killing a child. The person went on to write that they hoped a new war would break out. The Coalition For Women In Journalism is concerned about her safety and that of Zana’s family.

Zana, who is a Kosovar-Albanian journalist, reports for N1, a Belgradebased channel, and also contributes to AFPTV. Zana herself has been a thorough professional in her work, covering a range of issues. She speaks both Serbian and Albanian, making her a well-positioned journalist to cover several human-aspect stories. But we believe that because this also gives her a wider insight on the issues she covers, she is being targeted for her access, knowledge and courage to tell what she knows.Women journalists often have to face threats that will inevitably extend to their families.

The fact that Zana’s child was brought into the mix is still quite alarming and insensitive.We urge authorities to find the culprit behind these messages, and ensure swift justice, as it is the need of the hour for a strict message to be sent to the perpetrator. The threats have hindered Zana’s ability to carry out her job with safety and dignity. Also, not forget how it has interrupted her personal and professional space, as well as her ability to continue her work. This is a deliberate obstacle created for a journalist and we at the Coalition For Women In Journalism condemn it.

A report by Balkan Insight notes that online abuse against women journalists has been prevalent in the Balkans. SHARE Foundation, a Serbian NGO, reported on four cases of online threats targeting women journalists in 2018.

In 2019, four cases were registered in the first five months alone. Meanwhile, the local association of journalists in Bosnia reported 52 attacks against women journalists both online and offline from 2016 to April 2019.

The number of attacks keep going up but the same cannot be said for convictions.

Kosovo — a country populated predominantly by Albanian people — took independence from Serbia, a little more than a decade ago. It was never recognised by Serbia, which has continued to reject its independence through the years.

Efforts have been made in recent years to bring the two states together with little success. Most recently, Pristina’s decision to place a 100% tax on Serbian goods has resulted in new tensions between the two states.

The impact of such threats does not just limit itself to women journalists being threatened but also extends to a culture of silence amongst other reporters as well. Women journalists in particular have a difficult time covering the Balkans, where the threat of violence, assault and insult is almost always present.

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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.

Follow us on Instagram @womeninjournalism and Twitter @CFWIJ.

Our website is WomenInJournalism.org and we can be reached at press@womeninjournalism.org