Yemen: Online harassment campaigns resulted in the abduction attempt of journalist Weaam Alsofy’s son by Al-Houthi group affiliated members.
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Yemen: Online incitement campaigns resulted in the abduction attempt of journalist Weaam Alsofy’s son by Al-Houthi group affiliated members.
October 13, 2020, Aden, Yemen—Abduction attempt of Journalist Weam Al-Sofy’s son following online smear campaigns against Weaam Alsofy is proof that online harassment has severe offline consequences. The Coalition For Women In Journalism is deeply concerned about the status of women journalists in Yemen amid this heated conflict in the severely polarized country. Journalist Weam was targeted by threats of assassination and physical attacks over her coverage for the deteriorating humanitarian situation in Taez. Following her coverage exposing the misery of Yemeni citizens, leaders and politically affiliated figures with the Al-Houthi group threatened the journalist and her family.
Following these threats, an abduction attempt was conducted on Amr Mousa Elsalwy, Weam’s son on his way home back from school. He was accompanied by his Nanny when a Motorcycle approached them and dragged the boy causing him several injuries. Weam rushed to the scene where she found her son injured and the perpetrators surrounding him. Weam was also threatened with guns pointed at her in order to prevent her from filing a report against them.
Amr was injured in the forehead and neck but he survived this abduction attempt. The journalist filed a report to Media Freedoms Observatory in Yemen and asked them to follow up on the case. Weam explained that these threats against her are ongoing since 2016 due to her coverage. Recently, Al-Massiyra TV channel broadcasted a report accusing her of unethical conduct and recruiting women to work for military purposes.
The journalist called upon the Yemeni press syndicate to protect her and intervene to stop these threats against journalists in general to create a safe environment for press freedom. Weam works as a journalist for the September 26 news website and a reporter for Al-Mawqaa post and covered different aspects of the humanitarian tribulation of the Yemeni people because of the armed conflict.
Threats against women journalists hurt not only themselves but pose a risk for their families. The Coalition For Women In Journalism documented events where women journalists were threatened with their children. We find such practices utterly inhumane and ask authorities to protect the well being of children in such circumstances, a first step shall be to guarantee safety of women journalists without fear of retaliation.
The Coalition For Women In Journalism supports Weam’s demands for a safe environment for journalists in Yemen. CFWIJ calls upon all parties of the conflict in Yemen to refrain from targeting women journalists and to comply with international standards related to press treatment in conflict zones. Women journalists in the country play a key role in raising public awareness to the humanitarian crisis in the country, their safety shall be ensured for the well being of the country.
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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