Two journalists were beaten by police officers while covering teachers’ protest

Location: Guinea-Bissau, Bissau
Date: July 31, 2024

Women Press Freedom is appalled at the brutality faced by journalist Djuma Culubali during a protest in Guinea-Bissau that has left her reeling from the trauma and severe injuries. We strongly condemn the violence against the journalist perpetrated by officers of the Rapid Intervention Police. The use of excessive force by police is not only a direct attack on the individuals involved but also a broader assault on press freedom and civil liberties in Guinea-Bissau. Such actions are entirely unjustifiable and represent a blatant abuse of power by law enforcement officers who are supposed to protect citizens, not brutalize them. We demand justice for Culubali and call on the authorities to ensure accountability, arresting all those responsible for the attack.

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On July 31, 2024, Djuma Culubali, a journalist with Capital FM, was covering a teachers' protest outside the Ministry of Education in Bissau, the capital of Guinea-Bissau.

While preparing to interview the protesting teachers, Culubali was suddenly and violently assaulted by the police. Officers arrested her, and as she described, a police car sped toward them, after which she was beaten so severely that she lost consciousness.

“I saw a police car speeding towards us… It was a miracle that we weren’t all run over by the car. The police got out and immediately started beating us and everything went black,” Culubali recounted.

Following the assault, Culubali was hospitalized and continues to suffer from severe headaches and facial paralysis.

Another journalist, Ngouisam Casimiro Monteiro of Radio Popular, was also targeted during the protest. Monteiro was run over by the police car and subjected to a brutal physical assault. 

The Sindicato de Jornalistas e Tecnicos de Comunicacao de Guinea-Bissau (SINIOTECS) stated that both Culubali and Monteiro were deliberately targeted by the police.

“The journalists were brutally beaten by the police officers, and journalist Casimiro Monteiro was deliberately run over by the police car at the scene. We are facing terrible violations of civil rights and freedom of the press. The systematic damage to freedom of the press and freedom of expression is an attack on democracy and the rule of law in Guinea-Bissau,” the International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) affiliated union asserted.

This assault is part of a broader pattern of press freedom violations in Guinea-Bissau. Earlier this year, in February, women journalists Fátima Tchuma Camará and Indira Correia Baldé were barred from the presidential palace, silencing their critical voices and restricting their access to information. They were also subjected to online slander, threats, and verbal harassment in an effort to undermine their credibility. Additionally, a concerning study by the Media Foundation for West Africa (MFWA) last year highlighted the prevalence of sexual harassment and other challenges faced by women journalists in the country.

The attacks on Djuma Culubali and Ngouisam Casimiro Monteiro must be condemned at all levels. The violent actions of the police have no place in a society that claims to uphold the rule of law and democratic values. Women Press Freedom demands that the authorities in Guinea-Bissau conduct a thorough and impartial investigation into these incidents, bringing those responsible to justice and taking steps to prevent future occurrences of such brutality.

Women Press Freedom is an initiative by The Coalition For Women In Journalism

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.

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