Brazil: President Jair Bolsonaro’s Lawyer Frederick Wassef Threatened Journalist Juliana Dal Piva – CFWIJ Demands A Swift Investigation Into The Attack And Ensure Journalist’s Safety

Location: Brazil
Date: July 9, 2021

Journalist and columnist Juliana Dal Piva was threatened by President Jair Bolsonaro’s lawyer Frederick Wassef after a podcast was aired in which the president's corruption was exposed. The Coalition For Women In Journalism (CFWIJ) condemns the threats against the journalist. We demand Brazilian authorities to conduct a swift investigation into the threat messages and ensure journalist’s safety.

UOL’s Juliana Dal Piva received threat messages from President Jair Bolsonaro’s lawyer Frederick Wassef, following the podcast led by her about an investigation into acts of corruption committed by president Bolsonaro when he held a seat as a deputy. After the last episode of that work, which was broadcast as a podcast, Juliana received messages on WhatsApp from Wassef urging her to move to China. He said, "What do you do here to see what the wonderful political system you love so much does for you? Back in China and disappear. They wouldn't even find your body.”

Juliana took to her Twitter account to announce the threat she received via WhatsApp. She shared the statement with the news outlet she worked for and said, “I did and will do my job with the same responsibility that I always did for the public interest. Messages like this don't intimidate me. The consequences of this will be faced in the court.”

A mensagem na íntegra esta aqui. Fiz e farei meu trabalho com a mesma correção e responsabilidade que sempre o fiz e em prol do interesse público. Mensagens como essa não me intimidam. As consequências disso serão encaradas no foro competente.

https://t.co/JYQMrOMFs2

— Juliana Dal Piva (@julianadalpiva) July 9, 2021

In a statement revealed, "We repudiate the attack committed by President Jair Bolsonaro's attorney, Frederick Wassef, against our columnist Juliana Dal Piva and reiterate our support for her work and our commitment to serious, independent, nonpartisan journalism,” said journalist Alexandre Gimenez, general manager of News and Entertainment at UOL.

This attack is a context of repeated expressions of violence against journalists by the Brazilian President and members of his cabinet, which have been exacerbated during the COVID-19 pandemic. Harassment is particularly high against female journalists.

The Coalition For Women In Journalism stands in solidarity with Juliana Dal Piva. We support Juliana for her commitment to journalism and her dedicated, brave work. We demand Brazilian authorities conduct a swift investigation into the messages and ensure The journalists and the freedom of expression must be protected and guaranteed. Journalists must be able to carry out their work freely and without any fear of reprisals or threats. the journalist’s safety.

The CFWIJ strongly condemns the police brutality against journalists. We demand the immediate return of the press cards seized from the security forces. Policies to intimidate journalists should be abandoned, and journalism should be practiced under the criteria of freedom of the press.

If you have been harassed or abused in any way, and please report the incident by using the following form.