IMMEDIATE RELEASE 

PRESS RELEASE

25 July 2024

Pakistan: Network of Women Journalists for Digital Rights (NWJDR) strongly condemns Dr. Omer Adil’s recent derogatory and sexist statements against Gharidah Farooqi  and women working in the media in an online program by vlogger Zohaib Saleem Butt. The online vlog has been extremely triggering with the use of graphic language against women journalists in the country.

 

The use of these sexist and abusive words for women working in the media have been repeatedly used by male journalists and colleagues in the past too. This is not the first time that female journalists and anchors have been a target of hate speech, threats and defamation. Time and again women journalists have raised their concerns with relevant authorities and demanded justice however no punitive action is taken to provide them with protection. 

 

It is also pertinent to mention that the World Press Freedom Index already marks Pakistan at 152 out of 180 countries on press freedom and there’s been repeated orchestrated and sophisticated attacks against women journalists with gendered disinformation, hateful slurs, and technology-facilitated gender-based violence (TFGBV) in the country. The Digital Rights Foundation’s Cyber Harassment Helpline Report 2023 has also been receiving repeated complaints from journalists based on the attacks they face online and in 2023 alone 35 journalists filed a complaint with the helpline.

 

These comments increase the chances of violence in offline spaces for women working in the media and can have a lasting impact on their mental health. Women journalists already lack institutional support from families and workplaces and with comments like these made by senior journalists it only reinforces negative stereotypical personas of women working in the media and also directly poses threats to their economic livelihoods. 

 

The NWJDR demands full accountability from Dr. Omar Adil for maligning female journalists in the video. A public apology is insufficient to address the profound damage inflicted on the reputation of all women journalists. Furthermore, we assert that the apology from video host Zohaib Saleem Butt is grossly inadequate and fails to mitigate the harm caused by the misogynistic statements made in the video. 

 

We call on relevant government bodies, journalist protection organizations, and regional and national press clubs to unequivocally condemn the use of such language against women in the media. They must actively discourage its perpetuation through online content and vlogs and take punitive action against those disseminating this harmful content.

 

Signatures: 

1. Asma Kundi DW urdu freelancer
2. Mahwish Fakhar, Dawn, Islamabad
3. Dr. Tehreem Azeem, Assistant Professor, Department of Mass Communication, NUST 
4. Ayesha Khalid, Comms Manager, Facter Lead, Media Matters for Democracy
5. Gharidah Farooqi, anchor, Gtv
6. Afia Salaam, journalist
7. Madiha Abid Ali, Anchor person, PTV News Islamabad
8. Qurrat ul Ain Shirazi, journalist.
9. Mehr Hussain, The Friday Times
10. Fauzia Yazdani
11. Riffat Anjum, Journalist
12. Amber Shamsi, Journalist
13. Fatima Nazish, Multimedia editor DW news
14. Amel Ghani - Journalist Lahore
15. Bushra Pasha Foreign Correspondent DW Urdu
16. Umaima Ahmed, Global Voices
17. Fauzia Kalsoom Rana, Founder and Convenor Women journalists Association of Pakistan WJAP, Broadcast Journalist
18. Yashfeen Jamal, Anchorperson, Neo news
19. Ramna Saeed Yeni Șafak international correspondent
20. Sheema Siddiqui, Geo TV karachi
21. Xari Jalil, Voice.pk
22. Sabahat khan, Freelance journalist
23. FahmidahYousfi, journalist
24. Khalida niaz, Radio Mashaal
25. Ayesha Saghir, Reporter Express News Lahore
26. Lubna Jarar Naqvi, Journalist
27. Bushra Iqbal, multimedia journalist/ anchor person
28. Javeria Siddique Columnist Dunya Newspaper and Journalist working for Trt Urdu.
29. Najia Mir, Anchor person/ Senior Producer, KTN News
30. Sadia Hyat Khan, CEO of Zenith Media, actor anchor producer.
31. Shama Siddiqui journalist Anchor person  News Reader
32. Mehmal Sarfraz, Journalist
33. Shiba Gill, Anchor person: Lahore Chamber of commerce and industry
34. Aneela Ashraf freelance Multan
35. Farah Naz, b chief & Reporter Daily Aghaz e Safar, Editor Weekly Sholla
36. Absa Komal, Dawn Tv
37. Maryam Zia, Anchor PTV World
38. Amer Malik, Senior Correspondent, The News International
39. Wasif Shakil, Senior News Editor, Geo News
40. Moazzam S. Bhatti, Journalist
41. Zoya Anwer, Freelance Journalist
42. Zebunnisa Burki -- Journalist
43. Tarhub Asghar - BBC journalist
44. Mahjabeen Abid, freelance journalist / Multan
45. Amina Usman Anchor person & Chairperson Of Media leading Ladies
46. Dr. Rabia Noor, ARY NEWS
47. Sana Asif BBC Pvt Ltd Broadcast Journalist
48. Imrana Komal, Freelancer
49. Wajeeha Aslam, Manager Special project Samaa news
50. Fareeha Idrees, anchor of GNN. 
51. Dr.Hayam Qayyoum, Assistant Professor department of media Studies. Bahria University Islamabad
52. Hafsa Javed Khawaja, Journalism for Human Rights 
53. Sabah Malik, CityFM89, Dawn Media 
54. Aliya Jabeen, journalist 
55. Afshan Masab, Multimedia journalist, CEO NativeMedia
56. Faiz Paracha, Correspondent, Pro Pakistani & Daily News Diplomacy
57. Sumeira Ashraf, head of assignment & planning, 24 News HD, Islamabad
58. Sarah B. Haider, Journalist
59. Saweera Mustafa, Producer G For Gharida, Gtv
60. Rabbia Arshad journalist - multimedia journalist/documentary maker
61. Dr. Sana Ghori ( Metro One News ) Karachi
62. Arifa Noor, anchor, Dawn
63. Sehrish Qureshi Producer - Independent Urdu, Joint Secretary - National Press Club
64. Sanam Junejo, Associated press of Pakistan, Reporter/subeditor

 

Digital Rights Foundation is a registered research-based NGO in Pakistan. Founded in 2012, DRF focuses on ICTs to support human rights, inclusiveness, democratic processes, and digital governance. DRF works on issues of online free speech, privacy, data protection and online violence against women.

 

For more information log on: www.digitalrightsfoundation.pk 

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