Azhar Abbas

My heartfelt thanks to the Network of Women Journalists for Digital Rights (NWJDR) for this powerful statement of solidarity with me, Amber Rahim Shamsi and women journalists facing online abuse and gendered attacks. Your principled stand means a great deal. But solidarity must translate into accountability. Journalists, editors and media organisations must hold accountable those who enable, amplify or legitimise online harassment, not just anonymous trolls, but colleagues and influential voices within our own profession. Thank you for insisting that women journalists deserve dignity, safety and the freedom to work without intimidation. I appreciate the part of statement which says: “We are not naming individual journalists responsible in this statement. In our next statement, we will name names and present evidence of their conduct. If we condemn abusers, we must also hold our fellow journalists and our professional community accountable when their actions enable, amplify, or encourage harassment. Our responsibility cannot end with calling out anonymous trolls.” #AttackswontSilenceUs #JournalismIsNotACrime @RSF_inter @RSF_en @CPJAsia @IFJGlobal @ifjasiapacific @AmberRShamsi @DigitalRightsPK