France: CFWIJ is monitoring the criminal complaint filed by journalist Isabelle Kersimon

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June 7, 2021- French journalist Isabelle Krismon has filed criminal defamation complaints against unknown people who attacked her on social media. The journalist was following the investigation on a political movement “La Printemps Republican”. Her investigative stories were published on 4, 8, and 25th February in an online magazine, Slate. CFWIJ is following the situation of the defamation charges filed by Isabelle Kersimon. 

Reportedly there were 20 accounts involved in the online attacks against the journalist. She was accused of violating her journalistic ethics and spreading deliberate misinformation. Many social media users blamed her for being racist and part of conspiracy theories.  

Council of Europe for Media Freedom shared the alert on Twitter regarding online abuse Isabelle Kersimon faced.

RSF ranks France at number 34 out of 180 countries, in their list of in their press freedom index. It mentions harassment against investigative journalists in 2020. At least two journalists were called by the internal department of police on doubts of violating confidentiality terms. According to an established law of 2010, authorities can state the reason “overriding public interest” to investigate the journalistic sources. Journalists often suffer hostility on social media, sometimes the verbal attacks come even from political figures. 

The Coalition For Women In Journalism is following the situation of criminal defamation complaints filed by Isabelle Kersimon. We will be updating this statement as we learn more about the details of the case.