While reporting from the protest regarding the traffic accident in Surdulica, journalist Dejana Cvetković was the target of insults and threats to confiscate her mobile phone
During the protest held in Surdulica on February 14, freelance journalist Dejana Cvetković, associate of Vremen, Cenzolovka, Juznih Vesti, Tampon Zone and other media, was continuously disturbed by protesters, who defended her and obstructed her while she was recording the event, shouting, “that only she is allowed to record them” they threatened her that they will steal and break her mobile phone, which is her basic tool for work, threatening to sue her if she publishes the recordings and photos.
Insults such as “garbage”, “liar” and swear words were directed at her from the group of protesters. Some shouted “rape” and invited her to exchange phone numbers, with the message that they already had her number. Shocking misogynistic and sexist messages, insults and provocative questions such as “are you wearing a thong”, as well as statements “now it will turn out that we raped her” dominated. Personal data, accounts on social networks and recordings of Dejana Cvetković were shared without authorization in a Viber group that gathers protest participants. Her texts about minorities were also shared, with claims that she is financed by Albanians.
This award-winning journalist reported on the events and messages delivered at the protests regarding the traffic accident in which a young Albanian from Prizren, a relative of the owner of a local bakery, took part, and in which local resident Rastko Jović was killed. Protests due to the inaction of the police and other institutions turned into demands that the family of local Albanians be evicted from this place. Reporting on the protests and communication in the Viber group, she conveyed threats and calls for the persecution of the Albanian baker’s family.
“This kind of behavior represents a situation in which the Higher Public Prosecutor’s Office must react urgently due to inciting racial, religious and national hatred. Local officials who have insight into Viber correspondence must react and oppose lynching,” emphasized Katarina Golubović, president of YUCOM.
The attack on Dejana Cvetković was also condemned by the local media.
The “Infovranjske” portal assesses that what happened to this journalist “is not just an attempt at censorship, but a direct threat to security and the most mundane form of humiliating the dignity of a woman and a media worker.”
“The fact that the crowd resorted to the most heinous insults and threats of sexual violence is of particular concern. Screams that allude to rape, throwing about underwear and publicly sharing her videos in closed groups on social networks are a classic example of targeting and lynching,” the portal’s announcement reads.
“Dejana Cvetković is one of the best journalists, trained to report professionally while respecting the journalistic code, but also very sensitized to reporting on difficult topics and often taboo issues. Threatening her safety is inadmissible and she had to be protected by the police who secured this gathering. We call on the institutions to prevent the escalation of the campaign and threats against Dejana Cvetković,” said Veran Matić, president of the Association of Independent Electronic Media and coordinator of the Safe Line for reporting threats and attacks on journalists (0800 100 115).
Competent institutions in Surdulica, Vladičina Han and Vranje have been informed about security threats and threats.
Source: ANEM, Vreme
