Press Freedom Status For Women Journalists: November 2021
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Throughout the month of November 2021, the Coalition For Women In Journalism documented 56 cases of violations against women journalists. These included detentions, legal harassment and physical assaults in the field, among other attacks on press freedom and women journalists reporting from different parts of the world.
Two women journalists were murdered
Kenya: The police have launched a probe into the killing of Kate Mitchell, a worker for BBC Media Action. Kate was found dead in her hotel room in Nairobi. Learn more about the case.
Yemen: Rasha Abdullah al-Harazi and her unborn child were killed in a horrific car bombing in Aden. Her husband, also a journalist, was critically injured in the targeted attack. Find our detailed report here.
Four women journalists were attacked in the field
Turkey: Dokuz8Haber editor Esra Tokat was prevented from filming protesting students’ press briefing about the sexual assault of a woman by a veterinarian and professor. The journalist was reporting from the court premises, where the case was due for hearing. Esra was also threatened that legal action would be taken against her. Continue reading about the case.
Turkey: Three women journalists became targets of police brutality following a demonstration against the Ankara Mayor. Further details available here.
Six women journalists faced physical assault
Albania: Journalist Anila Hoxha and her cameraman were almost killed when a police officer, who has since been dismissed, pushed them into an abyss as they approached prominent businessman Ruzhdi Hoxha’s murder site. Read the full story.
Greece: Dutch journalist Ingeborg Beugel, who had a heated exchange with Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis, was forced to leave the country due to increasing threats to her safety. Further details available here.
Mexico: Beatriz Flores, founding editor of Presencia Hidalguense, faced a deadly attack in the early hours of November 10 by unidentified gunmen. Click here for details.
Pakistan: Journalist Ambreen Fatima was attacked, days after her husband, journalist Ahmad Noorani, reported an explosive story regarding the military establishment and judiciary’s collusion ahead of controversial 2018 elections. Find out more.
Turkey: Mesopotamia Agency (MA) reporter Eylem Aktaş and Jinnews reporter Derya Ren were barred and beaten by the security forces. Police also attempted to confiscate journalists' equipment. Read more.
Five women journalists detained by police when in the field
Canada: The Royal Canadian Mounted Police’s (RCMP) transgressions at the protesters’ campsite reached a crescendo with the arrest of journalist Amber along with several others. Read further details.
India: Journalists Samriddhi Sakunia and Swarna Jha were detained by the Assam Police in relation to their coverage of the Tripura violence. Find out more.
Iran: Freelance photojournalist Rahil Mousavi was arrested on November 9, 2021 over unspecified charges. More details available here.
Turkey: The police beat up and physically restrained Jin News reporter Öznur Değer, during protests in Ankara against the sharp drop in Turkish Lira and worsening economic conditions. Read the detailed report.
At least 22 women journalists were expelled from work
Turkey: Cumhuriyet newspaper dismissed eight journalists, five of whom were women, without notice. Find the full story here.
Ukraine: At least 17 women journalists lost their jobs when Kyiv Post, Ukraine's largest independent English-language newspaper, abruptly suspended operations and dismissed its entire newsroom. Learn more about the case.
One journalist was unjustifiably deported
Uzbekistan: Agnieszka Pikulicka was stranded for days after Uzbek officials at the Zhibek Zholy-Gisht Kuprik (Chernyaeva) border crossing denied her entry to the country. Click here for more information.
At least seven women journalists faced legal harassment
Colombia: President of the Senate Juan Diego Gómez filed a defamation lawsuit against Cuestión Pública’s founders Claudia Báez and Diana Salinas. Read the full story.
India: Associate Editor of HW News Arti Ghargi was called in for questioning by the Tripura Police in connection with coverage of anti-Muslim violence in the state earlier this month. Continue reading.
Poland: Reporter for Gazeta Wyborcza Katarzyna Włodkowsk faces a potential 30 day prison sentence if she refuses to reveal the name of her source and does not pay the fine for the concealment. Find out more.
Turkey: Journalist Perihan Kaya was sentenced to 11 months and 20 days in prison for 'insulting the President' over her social media posts. More details available here.
Turkey: The first hearing of the case against journalist Sibel Hürtaş for “resisting a public official” was held in Ankara. The journalist was charged after being beaten by the police while she was covering a lawyers’ protest last year. Click here for more details.
Turkey: A new lawsuit was filed against journalist Nazan Sala in connection with an investigation launched 12 years ago. Nazan was sued on the charge of being affiliated with a terrorist organization. Read further details.
Two women journalists faced miscellaneous forms of state oppression
Belarus: The police barged into the home of blogger Alena Yanushkouskaya’s adopted daughter to inquire about the journalist, who has been forced out of the country due to persistent legal action against her for her work. Learn more about the case.
Hong Kong: China correspondent for The Economist Sue-Lin Wong was denied entry to Hong Kong after the authorities refused to renew her visa. Click here for more information.
Three women journalists were sexually harassed this month
Argentina: Journalists Carolina Ponce de León and Mariana Romero came forward with separate experiences of facing sexual misconduct while on assignment. Read our detailed report.
India: A woman journalist was allegedly molested and harassed by the driver of a private ride-hailing service in Kolkata, while returning home from work. Details are available here.
Italy: A spectator sexually harassed sports journalist Greta Beccaglia, who was reporting live on a football match in Florence. Find out more.
Two women journalists were targeted online by organized troll campaigns
Greece: Dutch journalist Ingeborg Beugel faced a vicious online harassment campaign after a heated exchange between herself and Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis was televised. Learn more about the case.
Turkey: Duvar English editor Neşe İdil was targeted by an online harassment campaign and threatened after she reported on the rape and murder of a 16- year-old girl.For arguing that the horrific crime be viewed in light of rising femicide in the country and not merely reduced to the nationality of the alleged perpetrator, the journalist was targeted online by vile, gendered and racist abuse. Continue reading for details.
Two journalists confronted verbal harassment
India: Megha, a correspondent for Kairali TV, was verbally abused by workers of the Indian National Congress. Click here for the full report.
Malaysia: Reporter for Free Malaysia Today Minderjeet Kaur faced an onslaught of vitriol by Deputy Minister of Human Resources Awang Hashim and PAS vice-president Idris Ahmad when she questioned them on the implications of a gambling ban in Kedah. Further details available here.
The Coalition For Women In Journalism is proud of the safety network it has established for women journalists around the world. We reached out to Olivia Crelin and she spoke to us about the importance of women journalists’ contribution to the field.
"It is my fellow women and the support they offer, often through whisper networks and behind the scenes, that keeps me going and the need to keep fighting for equality and to improve inclusivity in all parts of the world - including in our own industry, organisations and networks - that drives me,” she said.
With the ongoing 16 Days of Activism campaign in mind, we also reached out to Kira Taylor of EURACTIV.
“I’m glad to join the Coalition For Women In Journalism campaign on 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence,” she said. “I think there is a lot that needs to be done in the media to stop women feeling like outsiders, particularly in hard news. That means more mentoring opportunities for women, more open dialogue about the issues women face and better representation of women in senior journalist and editor positions.”
