Journalist associations Association of Journalists of Macedonia (AJM), the Council of Media Ethics of Macedonia (CMEM), Independent Union of Journalists and Media Workers (SSNM) and Macedonian Institute for Media (MIM) are demanding urgent action on part of the Ministry of Interior (MOI) and the Public Prosecutor’s Office after the continuous open calls for lynching of journalists and other employees at the Metamorphosis Foundation that are spread by groups and individuals on social media which is violating the safety of our colleagues, states the joint press release.
“We are reminding that Metamorphosis has filed a criminal complaint at MOI in November and December last year when journalist associations reacted and demanded proactive approach on part of MOI and the Public Prosecutor’s Office. Also, we are reminding that since then, no action was taken that would prevent and sanction these threats, but on the contrary, these still continue, and the policy of impunity still remains. It is unpermitted that the institutions in charge such as the MOI and the Public Prosecutor’s Office for months to be avoiding their responsibility to react to all open threats toward journalists, whose personal data is being revealed in ways that are exposing them to becoming a target of physical assaults,” said the press release.
At the same time, they are reminding the institutions that the efficiency in the fight with threats issued on social media isn’t ending with the finding of people who threaten high-ranking government officials which is effective only when it comes to public officeholders.
“We are expecting from the institutions not to have double standards when it comes to journalists and media workers especially when they are exposed to hate speech and calls for their lynching only because they are doing their job,” said the press release.
