Violence against female journalists on rise

“More and more women journalists are the victims of murder, arrest, threats or intimidation,” Reporters Without Borders (RSF) said on March 8, the 30th commemoration of International Women’s Day.

The proportion of women journalists who have been killed has never been as high as it is today. This is in part due to the increasing number of female journalists willing to risk their lives for the press. However, the threat these women face has become more severe as tensions have heightened worldwide.

“Women reporters have been among the victims of the violence by armed groups in Iraq,” the article notes. “Atwar Bahjat of the Al-Arabiya TV station was killed after being abducted with her crew while covering the aftermath of the bombing of a Shiite shrine in Samarra in February 2006. Unusually in Iraq, her murderer was caught and sentenced to death a few months later.”

The article highlights several women who have been jailed for their reports in opposition of various governments.

RSF salutes women press freedom activists for their bravery and courage.

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