Pakistan: CFWIJ condemns the attack to hack into Gharidah Farooqi’s Twitter account.

March 5, 2021, Islamabad: There was an attempt to hack Gharidah Farooqi’s Twitter account following the display of support to her and other women journalists by the Coalition For Women In Journalism. Pakistani cyberspace has become increasingly violent, especially towards women critical of the state in the past few years, and the authorities continue to blindside the issue despite such actions being illegal.

On March 4, CFWIJ member Gharidah Farooqi experienced a cyber attack, wherein it appeared someone had attempted to gain access to her Twitter account. Farooqi shared this news with other women journalists on a WhatsApp group, attaching screenshots as proof of suspicious activity. Gharidah Farooqi was among the four women journalists, whom the Coalition For Women In Journalism had mentioned in a statement of support, following the unethical behaviour of Prime Minister’s special assistant, Shahbaz Gill on Twitter. It is hard to believe this cyberattack, thus, was a coincidence. A team member of the CFWIJ also experienced a similar attack, closely after the publication of the aforementioned statement.

Pakistani cyberspace has become an increasingly threatening place for women in the past few years. Women journalists, as well, have experienced what appeared to be state-endorsed coordinated attacks on the internet. Organizations like Digital Rights Foundation have repeatedly rung alarm bells on the issue, to no avail. Women continue to feel unsafe on the internet, despite the presence of laws that deem such attacks illegal. The Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (2016) that was supposed to protect vulnerable citizens from a hostile online space, now appears to be the arm of the state to weaponize against critics.

The Coalition For Women In Journalism condemns the attack on Gharidah Farooqi in the strongest terms. However, we are also reiterating our increasing concern at the vicious nature of cyberspace in Pakistan that is routinely weaponized to target those critical of the state. We urge the state of Pakistan to take note of the matter and make the internet a safer space for all its citizens.