Afghanistan: Farahnaz Forotan Leads Campaign Exposing Online Harassment Targeting Afghan Women Journalists
September 30, 2024 - Afghanistan
Women Press Freedom stands in unwavering solidarity with Afghan journalist Farahnaz Forotan, who is courageously exposing the relentless online harassment targeting Afghan women journalists. Forotan, currently in exile in the US, is leading the campaign to "break the silence" by urging women to share screenshots of the harassment they face, exposing the grave threats directed at them simply for speaking their minds.
We stand with Forotan and all Afghan women journalists enduring these attacks while grappling with the trauma of gender apartheid imposed by the Taliban. Afghanistan, under Taliban rule since the Fall of Kabul in August 2021, remains one of the most dangerous countries for press freedom and journalists' safety.
WPF has documented at least 33 cases of threats against women journalists between 2019 and 2023, including four tragic murders. We call on the international community to take urgent action to protect Afghan women journalists, to amplify their voices, and to hold the Taliban accountable for the gendered violence and suppression of press freedom in Afghanistan.
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Women Press Freedom stands in unwavering solidarity with Cumpio and demands her immediate release, along with the dismissal of all charges against her.
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We stand in solidarity with Rana Ayyub and call for swift action to hold those responsible accountable, ensuring that this heinous targeting is met with justice.
We call for transparent investigations into the journalist’s cases and ask for her safety to be ensured, so she can continue to report the truth without any fear of retribution.
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