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Media theorist reports pattern of threats against Serbian journalists and activists
๐Ÿ‡ท๐Ÿ‡ธ Serbia /Crime & Justice

Media theorist reports pattern of threats against Serbian journalists and activists

From N1 Serbia · () Serbian

Translated from Serbian, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Sources not specified Context piece
  • Media theorist Ana Martinoli received a threatening email on July 5, which she believes is part of a pattern of intimidation against journalists and activists.
  • Martinoli stated that similar threats have been sent to colleagues from various faculties and journalists, with little to no response from authorities.
  • She expressed concern over the rising number of digital threats and the perceived lack of will to act, suggesting it emboldens perpetrators.

Media theorist Ana Martinoli has spoken out against a wave of threats targeting journalists and public figures in Serbia, highlighting a perceived lack of official response. Martinoli received a threatening email on July 5, which she believes is connected to similar messages sent to numerous other individuals.

Nearly 20 different people have reported the same or similar threats in the past six to nine months.

โ€” Ana MartinoliMartinoli discussing the pattern of threats she and others have received.

"Nearly 20 different people have reported the same or similar threats in the past six to nine months," Martinoli told N1. She noted that colleagues from the Faculty of Political Sciences, the Faculty of Philosophy, universities in Kragujevac and Novi Sad, as well as numerous journalists and activists, have received comparable messages, often from the same email address.

The Independent Journalists' Association of Serbia (NUNS) condemned the threats, which have also been directed at journalists from BIRN, the Faculty of Dramatic Arts, and NUNS legal representative Rade ฤuriฤ‡. New threats have also appeared in the comments section of N1's news portal. Martinoli emphasized that despite numerous reports filed with relevant authorities, there has been a notable lack of action beyond acknowledging receipt of the complaints.

It is worrying that the number of threats in the digital environment has been increasing in recent months, coming from personal profiles where names and surnames are visible.

โ€” Ana MartinoliMartinoli expressing concern about the rise of digital threats and the perceived lack of official response.

"It is worrying that the number of threats in the digital environment has been increasing in recent months, coming from personal profiles where names and surnames are visible," Martinoli said. "This creates the impression that there is no will to react, and it seems to further embolden all these threats." She believes these threats often follow public appearances, whether in the media or other public forums, citing a recent appearance on TV Informer with colleagues and activists where personal data was shared shortly before she received the threatening email.

This creates the impression that there is no will to react, and it seems to further embolden all these threats.

โ€” Ana MartinoliMartinoli explaining the impact of inaction on perpetrators of threats.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by N1 Serbia in Serbian. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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