The Women’s Media Forum Pakistan (WMFP) stands in solidarity with a Kosovo journalist who was assaulted by the Prime Minister’s security team. WMFP is concerned about the increasing attacks on women in media around the world.
WMFP strongly condemns the assault, pressing media rights organisations to take steps to help train women journalists against such attacks and demand that authorities ensure journalists, especially women journalists are safe in the field.
On December 28, 2023, journalist Blerta Dalloshi-Berisha from TV Klan was attacked when she attempted to ask Kosovo Prime Minister Albin Kurti a question. Blerta hurt her right hand after the PM’s security used needless force on her and snatched her microphone which also disrupted the filming.
Later, Blerta elaborated on the incident, condemning the attack on her Facebook calling it a “shame.”
Media reported there has been tension between PM Kurti’s government and the media outlet TV Klan that Blerta works for. In June 2023, the government tried to close the channel by stripping it of its license. Fortunately, the courts did not allow this to happen.
The Association of Journalists of Kosovo (AJK) condemned the attack in its statement. Talking about the media’s growing sense of insecurity within Kosovo’s media community, AJK called the mistreatment of journalists “completely unacceptable”.
WMFP asks the Kosovo government to provide journalists and media workers, especially women, a conducive environment to work and refrain from usurping freedom of media and speech.
