Libya: Arrest of the criminal who threatened Journalist Nancy Porsia and her family.
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Read our statement in English
Libya: Arrest of the criminal who threatened Journalist Nancy Porsia and her family.
October 16, 2020, Tripoli, Libya — Libyan authorities arrested Abdel Rahmen Milad “Bidja”, the human trafficker who threatened journalist Nancy Porsia and her family last year due to her reporting about his terrorist activities. The Coalition For Women In Journalism is thrilled about this news and what it symbolizes for the safety of women journalists generally and Nancy Porsia and her family particularly.
Libyan Ministry of Interior announced yesterday the arrest of human trafficker, smuggler and criminal Abdel-Rahman Milad known as “Bidja” over charges of human trafficking and also sinking boats of undocumented migrants who fled the conflict in Libya. According to the UN, Bidja used to work as Police and Borders chief in Al-Zawya area by the Libyan shores and he is known for his brutality and mistreatment of refugees and migrants. He is also accused of smuggling fuel and many other crimes that made her wanted by the Interpol.
Italian journalist Nancy Porsia made a whole report four years ago about Bidja’s involvement in human trafficking and brutality against migrants. Due to her reporting, he threatened to target her and her family. Nancy expressed her relief yesterday in a tweet after capturing the terrorist who threatened her life.
Nancy Porsia is an Italian freelance print and tv journalist and documentary filmmaker, author, and producer. She is based between Libya and Tunisia and is specialized in the Middle East and North Africa. She has been covering politics, security, and illegal migration in Libya for the last five years.
Women journalists around the world are targeted for their reporting on many forms. The safety of journalists and their families especially in conflict zones like Libya, Yemen, Syria, and others should be in the top priorities of UN mechanisms. This is the second case of threats against women journalists that CFWIJ documented in less than a week in Libya. We definitely welcome the arrest of Bidja but we believe there are much-needed measures to be set to ensure the safety of women journalists in Libya.
The Coalition For Women In Journalism thanks Libyan authorities for arresting the criminal who threatened Nancy albeit the complexity and power of militias members. CFWIJ hopes that this step will be followed by more assertive measures to protect and ensure safety of journalists in Libya.
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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
Read our statement in Arabic
وكانت الصحفية نانسي بورسيا قد أعدت تقرير منذ 4 أعوام عن تورط بيدجا في أعمال الاتجار بالبشر ووحشية تعامله مع المهاجرين وبسبب هذا التقرير هدد بيدجا باستهدافها وأسرتها. عبرت نانسي عن ارتياحها للقبض على الإرهابي الذي هدد حياته في تغريدة بالأمس.
يتقدم تحالف النساء العاملات بالصحافة بالشكر للسلطات الليبية علي القبض علي المجرم الذي هدد نانسي علي الرغم من تعقيد ونفوذ الإرهابيين في الميليشيات. ويأمل التحالف أن يتبع هذه الخطوة بإجراءات حازمة أخري لحماية وضمان سلامة الصحفيين في ليبيا.
