Croatia: Nikolina Martinović Threanened for Refusing to Remove News
The Coalition For Women In Journalism condemns the threats against Martinović and urges authorities to prosecute the perpetrator
Location: Croatia, Slavonski Brod
Date: July 15, 2023
Nikolina Martinović of 035portal threatened after she refused to remove a report from the online news outlet. The Coalition For Women In Journalism applauds the police’s swift action in arresting the man. We urge the State Attorney’s Office in Slavonski Brod to hold him to account.
"I will kill you, I will wipe the floor with you, you fool, be careful when it gets dark."
An unnamed man sends menacing threats to Nikolina Martinović, the editor-in-chief of 035portal, after she refuses to remove a story in which he was mentioned.
The man threatened the reporter through her newsroom on July 15, prompting the news outlet to report the matter to the police, leading to the arrest of a suspect.
The suspect was handed over to the Municipal State Attorney's Office in Slavonski Brod, where he will face legal consequences for his actions. As a precautionary measure, authorities have imposed a protective order, preventing the suspect from approaching Martinović within a 100-meter radius and establishing any form of contact with her.
Under the Croatian Criminal Code, people who target those working in the public interest, including journalists, can face imprisonment ranging from six months to five years.
The Croatian Journalists' Association strongly condemned the threats made against Martinović. They emphasize that this incident sheds light on the challenges faced by local media professionals who often find themselves subjected to numerous threats.
In 2020, the editorial office of Zadarski.hr in Zadar experienced a similar terrifying ordeal. Two unidentified men stormed the premises, threatening to take the lives of journalists. The attack was in retaliation for a news story that highlighted a wedding held in violation of Covid-19 regulations.
The media landscape in Croatia is diverse, but ownership is concentrated among a few companies. Journalists frequently face harassment, physical assaults, and cyber-attacks, particularly when investigating corruption and organized crime.
The Coalition For Women In Journalism commends the police for taking the threat against Nikolina Martinović seriously. We urge the State's Attorney office to conduct a thorough investigation and expedite the prosecution of the man responsible. It is crucial to send a strong message that attacks on journalists will not go unpunished.
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.
If you have been harassed or abused in any way, and please report the incident by using the following form.