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Pakistan: Unsafe For Journalists? CFWIJ Condemns Ruling Party’s Move To Malign Senior Journalist Asma Shirazi

Prominent broadcast journalist and Coalition For Women In Journalism member Asma Shirazi has been hit with yet another government-backed organized troll campaign. Reacting to a column penned by Asma in BBC Urdu, the ruling Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf’s official Twitter account posted a video purportedly of a mobile phone conversation between Asma and thrice ousted prime minister Nawaz Sharif. The ruling party’s Twitter handle attempted to discredit and align Asma and accused her of “obedience” to a “certified chor [thief] and absconder”. The CFWIJ condemns the use of such rhetoric by the party, which leads Pakistan’s federal government. Such acts by a government already under criticism for encroaching on the freedom of the press, in a country known for its frequent violations against journalists, place a target on journalists’ backs.

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Argentina: CFWIJ Alarmed At Virtual Identity Theft Of Journalist Sandra Borghi

Journalist Sandra Borghi was targeted by imposters who stole her identity on social media. The attackers, who remain anonymous, created a Facebook profile in her name, published her photos and contacted her colleagues. Through their conversation with her colleagues, Sandra fears that the attackers might have attempted to steal personal information in her name that can be misused going forward. She has since registered a complaint with the law enforcement authorities.

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Canada: Two More Women Journalists of Color Targeted as Deeply Racist, Organised Hate Campaign Escalates

The widespread hate campaign against journalists of color escalated on Monday with two more women journalists receiving threatening and abusive emails. At least 17 journalists were targeted after right-wing politician Maxime Bernier tweeted a provocative message inciting his supporters. Freelance sports journalist Shireen Ahmed and CBC host Angela Sterritt were the latest targets of the ongoing hate campaign, weaponized racist and misogynistic language to threaten, intimidate and silence journalists of color. Maxime’s tweet has since been deleted but the organised campaign against journalists has continued unabated, with many of the vile emails sent from the same email account.

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Canada: Ashleigh-Rae Thomas Amongst Journalists Targeted in The Online Troll Campaign. CFWIJ Condemns the Attacks Against Women Journalists and Journalists of Color

At least 18 journalists received vile emails after right-wing politician Maxime Bernier tweeted a provocative message to his followers. Displeased by their coverage of his work, and their line of inquiry, Bernier encouraged his supporters to “play dirty”, thus initiating a violent targeted harassment campaign. He even went so far as to publish the email addresses of some of the journalists online, making them vulnerable to online abuse. Although later taken down by Twitter, the journalists faced hostile digital attacks as a result of his tweets.

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Canada: CFWIJ Condemns The Organized Troll Campaign Against Women Journalists And Journalists Of Color

At least eight women journalists received vile emails after right-wing politician Maxime Bernier tweeted a provocative message to his followers. Displeased by their coverage of his work, and their line of inquiry, Bernier encouraged his supporters to “play dirty”, thus initiating a violent targeted harassment campaign. He even went so far as to publish the email addresses of some of the journalists online, making them vulnerable to online abuse. Although later taken down by Twitter, the journalists faced hostile digital attacks as a result of his tweets.

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