Pakistan - Attacks Won’t Silence Us
This is an information and campaign page focusing on challenges women journalists face in Pakistan. In this dedicated page you can find statements about threats against women journalists, our timelines highlighting important violations and impediments of work women journalists face and visual material with experiences of Pakistani women journalists.
CFWIJ Press Freedom Attack Tracker: Threats against women journalists in Pakistan
Please note that the Online Harassment section only represent major campaigns against women journalists. This does not include the daily and often vicious online trolling majority of women journalists encounter on a daily basis.
STATEMENTS
Pakistan remains to be one of the most dangerous countries in the world for women journalists. Aside from the glass ceiling and government intervention, women journalists in Pakistan are encountering vicious social media attacks, doxing, and hacking attempts by accounts affiliated to the ruling party and conservative, right-wing elements in the country. Such deplorable acts further draw our attention to the grim environment against women journalists and press freedom. Please read our statements between October 2017 and August 2020 in this section.
TIMELINES
Since our foundation, we have documented cases of violations against women journalists in Pakistan. In this timeline section, you can find the cases documented between 2014 and 2020 as well as timelines of the ongoing online harassment campaigns against Gharida Farooqi and Tanzeela Mazhar.
PROFILES OF WOMEN JOURNALISTS WHO HAVE BEEN TROLLED
Online attacks against Pakistani women journalists has been an ongoing notorious trend. CFWIJ identified 76 cases of online attacks against women reporters in the country. We have searched accounts of women journalists who are constantly being harassed by various troll accounts to determine what kind of vicious assaults they are facing on a daily day basis. This chart does not reflect the entire landscape of online trolling which is impossible to manually document, but merely the most prominent trolls.
Ayesha Tanzeem
Source of trolling indicates: bias linked to PTI
Ayesha Tanzeem heads VOA’s Pakistan and Afghanistan and Pakistan bureau based in Islamabad, Pakistan. She is one of a few foreign correspondents who have traveled to areas under the control and influence of the Islamic State militant group while it was at the peak of its power in eastern Afghanistan in 2015. Her reporting that brought to light tales of harrowing cruelty and suffering earned her the David Burke award for Courage in Journalism.
Previously, she hosted two VOA current affairs TV shows: “On the Line” and “Access Point with Ayesha Tanzeem." She tweets @atanzeem
Ayesha Bakhsh
Source of trolling indicates: bias linked to PTI
Before working for Geo News, Bakhsh worked as an anchor on Ary News. Later, in January 2007, Ayesha joined Geo Television and is currently Pakistan's Geo TV's Senior Newscaster. Her first appearance on television as an anchor was on Geo’s programme, Nazim Hazir Ho. She also hosted Crisis Cell, Aaj Kamran Khan Kay Saath, and Laakin during the absence of their permanent hosts. At present she is working on GNN News.
In 2012 and 2014, she won the Best Newscaster (Female) at the 3rd and 4th Pakistan Media Awards. As of 2015, she hosts the talk show News Room and nowadays she is hosting a new talkshow Report Card. She tweets @AyeshaBakhsh
RESOURCES
Here you will find resources to report cyber crime including online harassment, abuse, trolling, doxing, and hacking. This section also includes reports by various organization working on the violations of press freedom in Pakistan.
Find FIA’s Complaints Registration Form here.
FIA publishes cyber crime prevention tips. Click here.
The Act for prevention of electronic crimes here.
CPDI released the report on Right to Information and Media Laws in Pakistan here.
CyberHarassment Helpline by DRF here.
If you have been harassed or abused in any way, report the incident here.
Legal help for Pakistani journalists available here.
The report by Pakistan Media Commission Review here.
Read research on Denial of Freedoms and Restrictive Spaces here.
LAWS THAT PROTECT PRESS FREEDOM
The following Article in the Constitution of Pakistan embodies the right to free speech and press freedom.
Article 19 of the Constitution of Pakistan: Freedom of speech, etc.
Original
“Every citizen shall have the right to freedom of speech and expression and there shall be freedom of the press, subject to any reasonable restrictions imposed by law in the interest of the glory of Islam or the Integrity, security or defence of Pakistan or any part thereof, friendly relations with foreign States, public order, decency or morality, or in relation to contempt of Court, defamation or incitement to an offence”.
Amended
“Every citizen shall have the right to freedom of speech and expression and there shall be freedom of the press, subject to any reasonable restrictions imposed by law n the interest of the glory of Islam or the integrity, security or defence of Pakistan or any part thereof, friendly relations with foreign States, public order, decency or morality, or in relation to contempt of Court, commission of or incitement to an offence.”
Article 19(A) of The Constitution of Pakistan: Right to information
Every citizen shall have the right to have access to information in all matters of public importance subject to regulation and reasonable restrictions imposed by law.
The Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act, 2016 (PECA)
The Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act, 2016 was meant to be an improvement to the 2009 Musharraf-era Pakistan Electronic Crime Ordinance (PECO). PECO was bad news because of the amount of power it gave to the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA). This legislation eventually evolved into the Pakistan Cyber Crime Bill 2015, which was passed and turned into the Pakistan Cyber Crime Act (PECA).
Find the PECA document here.
Press and media bodies working to protect journalists and press freedom
Pakistan Press Foundation
Pakistan Press Foundation (PPF) is an independent media documentation and training centre, non-governmental organisation committed to promoting and defending freedom of expression.
Visit the website here.
Pakistan Impunity Watch
Pakistan Impunity Watch provides updates and news related to press freedom and human rights violations in Pakistan.
Visit the website here.
If you have been harassed or abused in any way, and would like to report the incident, please use the following form to reach out to The Coalition For Women In Journalism.
DELEGATION
THREATS AGAINST WOMEN JOURNALISTS IN PAKISTAN SINCE 2015
TWITTER CAMPAIGN
Follow our Twitter thread here detailing the cases, the joint statement CFWIJ signed and updates.
1. #Pakistan: #CFWIJ stands with Pakistani #womenjournos who face constant online harassment by misogynistic trolls. We joined them in the campaign to shut down these vicious attackers and demand authorities to take strict actions.
— #WomenInJournalism (@CFWIJ) August 12, 2020
Read more: https://t.co/4a4L8O0kU4 pic.twitter.com/seYULe1Wrh
3. #CFWIJ has been reporting on online harassment of #Pakistani women journalists since it’s foundation. It is such a stigmatised issue that a lot of the cases go unreported. We call upon women journalists around the world to stand in solidarity #AttacksWontSilenceUs pic.twitter.com/xauSsTPRT7
— #WomenInJournalism (@CFWIJ) August 12, 2020
5. #Pakistani #womenjournos were the target of online trolls ahead of the elections in 2018. #CFWIJ member @asmashirazi faced vitriolic comments online because she interviewed Pakistan’s ousted prime minister Nawaz Sharif. #AttacksWontSilenceUs
— #WomenInJournalism (@CFWIJ) August 12, 2020
Read more: https://t.co/FaBW9lSLPw pic.twitter.com/asfyCXwCga
7. In June of 2018, we identified an array of online trolls against @BBCUrdu journalist @iramabbasi as well, that were vitriolic, and graphic. All these trolls targeted her gender. #AttacksWontSilenceUs
— #WomenInJournalism (@CFWIJ) August 12, 2020
Read more: https://t.co/o5evAJ71q5 pic.twitter.com/MvTbQID17y
9. In July 2019, #CFWIJ met with Human Rights Minister @ShireenMazari1, to present a resolution for the protection of media workers in the country, particularly women journalists. Dr. Mazari promised a swift action against online trolls.
— #WomenInJournalism (@CFWIJ) August 12, 2020
Read more: https://t.co/nHHytoxPbW pic.twitter.com/iYL0FVCiNw
11. Online harassment and smear campaigns intensified following the #AuratMarch of 2020, portraying the misogynistic character of trolls. #CFWIJ members @GFarooqi and @Maria_Memon were targeted for defending women’s rights in Pakistan.
— #WomenInJournalism (@CFWIJ) August 12, 2020
Read more: https://t.co/ee5zRnTZtU pic.twitter.com/kbsDghZhdp
13. Trolling and other forms of online abuse has real life consequences. Many #CFWIJ members who were subjected to online harassment had their homes broken into. We encourage all stakeholders to join efforts to make reporting a safe endeavour for women journalists in #Pakistan. pic.twitter.com/nSNJwCVWUA
— #WomenInJournalism (@CFWIJ) August 12, 2020
15. Yesterday, a group of women journalists met with the parliament’s standing committee on human rights to share testimonies about online attacks they face. The meeting was presided by member National Assembly and @MediaCellPPP chairperson @BBhuttoZardari. #AttacksWontSilenceUs pic.twitter.com/cYppdZfvO6
— #WomenInJournalism (@CFWIJ) August 19, 2020
17. The committee took notice of the complaints by #womenjournos and aimed to address their concerns by summoning stakeholders. @BBhuttoZardari said that there is no justification for rape or death threats and that it was everyone’s responsibility to stand with #womenjournos pic.twitter.com/D3WwgB1lqh
— #WomenInJournalism (@CFWIJ) August 19, 2020
19. #CFWIJ salutes the courage and persistence of Pakistani #womenjournos who led this campaign. We urge the government to take deterrent actions against their perpetrators, safeguard the dignity of #womenjournos and create a safe environment for them. #AttacksWontSilenceUs pic.twitter.com/HTGHuaEWVp
— #WomenInJournalism (@CFWIJ) August 19, 2020
VIDEOS
Watch our conversations with women journalists, detailing the day to day life and challenges of reporting on the ground in Pakistan.
CFWIJ condemns the persistent online harassment and bullying of Gharidah Farooqi.
Women journalists in Pakistan are frequently targeted by trolls. Gharidah Farooqi's latest tweet citing a fact about the New Zealand shooter resulted in an onslaught of abuse online. Her words were taken out of context, and a campaign was initiated against her, with some calling for her murder.
Pakistan Mentor Amber Rahim Shamsi, talks about juggling, journalism and motherhood.
CFWIJ mentor journalist Amber Rahim Shamsi speaks about being a woman journalist and a mother in Pakistan. She describes the current situation and the environment in the country.
Journalist Tanzila Mazhar talks about handling sexual harasment
Our Pakistan Chapter's mentor Tanzila Mazhar offers tips about how to report a case of sexual harassment. During her career as a leading television news journalist, Mazhar faced series of sexual harassments followed by intimidation by her boss.
Journalist Ayesha Tanzeem talks about her experiences with examples and her stories from the field.
We spoke to Ayesha about experiences working in the field. She made some comparisons between working in different regions and how she holds it all together.
CFWIJ brings you some powerful messages on Women's Day from our network.
Pakistan is home to Marvi Sirmed, a political commentator, journalist and human rights activist. She has been routinely targeted by the state because of her critical voice, but that has not detered her. Listen to her powerful message.
CFWIJ brings you some powerful messages on Women's Day from our network.
In Pakistan today is #CFWIJ's own Afia Salam. She writes about climate change and gender issues in a very patriarchal society. Afia stands tall, as the state continues to attempt to silence voices of dissent. We can't be more proud to have her as a member.
CFWIJ brings you some powerful messages on Women's Day from our network.
Making Zubeida Mustafa proud, is the young feminist voice of Ailia Zehra. Ailia is the managing editor at Naya Daur Media, and has faced severe backlash for her critical voice. Listen to her talk about why she does, all that she does.
