Serbia: Editor-In-Chief Of Novi Sad Television, Emilija Marić, Physically Assaulted
Location: Serbia, Novi Sad
Date: October 18, 2022
While reporting on a demonstration against the construction of a bridge over the Danube River, Emilija Marić, editor-in-chief of Novi Sad TV, was the target of a physical attack. The Coalition For Women In Journalism condemns the aggression faced by Marić and extends its support to the journalist.
Emilija Marić along with cameraman Lazar Bogdanović were in the northern Serbian city of Novi Sad to cover the attempts to hinder the commencement of construction by environmental activists. While filming on her mobile, activists reportedly identified her and began to slander Marić and Bogdanović. Marić reported that one of them went up to her, hit her and knocked the phone out of her hand, which then hit her on the head. Marić did not report grave injuries. The incident, carried out by one of the female activists, was recorded and posted online.
The Journalists’ Association of Serbia (UNS) spoke to Marić about the attack. Activists had been trying to wall access to Šodroš and obstruct the beginning of the construction of the bridge by workers from the global engineering and construction firm China Road and Bridge Corporation (CRBC). Although multiple activists were later arrested by police, none were held accountable for carrying out the attack on the journalist.
There are numerous cases of gender-based violence and harassment against women journalists in Serbia. These attacks include some very serious forms of insults and threats to the safety of journalists. While some of these cases are prosecuted, others remain without any legal repercussions.
"An attack on a journalist, and especially on a woman, in this country must not be allowed to anyone, the entire Serbian public agrees on that, so this act of aggression must be condemned by everyone, not only by professional associations, but also by all those who are sincerely fighting against violence, and especially against violence against women", said Novi Sad Television.
UNS along with the Ministry of Culture also condemned the attack. UNS called on the authorities to file a report against the alleged attacker while the Ministry of Culture issued a statement saying: “The Ministry points out that physical attacks on journalists, as the most brutal form of endangering the right to freedom of the media, are absolutely inadmissible and calls on the competent authorities to take all legal measures and sanction the perpetrator of this attack.” The attack was also denounced by the mayor of Novi Sad, Miloš Vučević.
The Coalition For Women In Journalism joins the aforementioned entities in condemning the assault on journalist Emilija Marić and urges the police to carry out a thorough investigation on the matter.
The CFWIJ strongly condemns the police brutality against journalists. We demand the immediate return of the press cards seized from the security forces. Policies to intimidate journalists should be abandoned, and journalism should be practiced under the criteria of freedom of the press.
If you have been harassed or abused in any way, and please report the incident by using the following form.
