Pakistan: Naya Daur Managing Editor Ailia Zehra stands up to online harassment

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September 22, 2020, Islamabad, Pakistan -- Naya Daur Media’s Managing Editor Ailia Zehra, following a surge of vicious online attacks which include death threats filed a complaint with the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) Cybercrime Wing on September 19. Naya Daur, a progressive newsroom in Pakistan has been on the receiving end of online harassment since its establishment.

Ailia Zehra, following her coverage of the brutal murder of Shaheena Shaheen, a Balochi woman journalist received online harassment which incites others to commit violence against her, which breaches her right to privacy and rape threats on September 7. Her comments against the barbaric “tradition” of so-called “honor” killings triggered faceless misogynistic trolls online. 

In the complaint, Ailia mentioned that this wave of abuse and threats has caused her ‘severe mental anguish’ and put her in constant fear for her life. She also mentioned some of the names that harassers used on social media and applied for execution of relevant legal remedies to ensure her safety. 

Ailia, in calling on the FIA to act on the complaint, aims to set a precedent to discourage those who abuse and threaten women journalists on social media. 

The Coalition For Women In Journalism has documented an unprecedented amount of online attacks against women journalists in Pakistan this year. Last we met with the Minister of Human Rights Dr. Shireen Marazi who had promised to take all necessary actions against the burning issue of online harassment towards Pakistani women journalists. This year we joined hands with Pakistani women journalists in #AttacksWontSilenceUs campaign to remind the government and other public agencies of their responsibility to ensure safety of women journalists and safeguard freedom of the press. We stand with Ailia Zehra in her efforts to set an example to other journalists in the country who are constantly faced with threats and targeted with online smear campaigns.