A recently created Facebook profile with a pseudonym based on the alias used in the complaint against Mayor Erion Veliaj attacked journalist Glidona Daci online on Monday, using derogatory innuendo and epithets.
In a conversation with BIRN, Klan News journalist Glidona Daci said that the attack was related to her work and specifically comments she made recently on television about cases under investigation by the Special Prosecution Office.
"I think the attack is related to my duty as a journalist, also because of the reports I have made regarding recent developments and the work of the Special Prosecution Office," Daci said. She added that she did not know and had no idea who was behind the attack, but noted that she would report the case.
"It's not the first time I've been at the center of these attacks, but I didn't expect them to go to this extent of denigrating my image," she said.
Daci says she only feels bad for how her family might experience it, but adds that she will not give up. “I have one thing for my family: don’t be sad, you know what kind of daughter you raised and I will not give up on doing my job the way I have done so far,” she said.
Derogatory attacks and online harassment against female journalists, based on their gender, are recurring. In a statement released on Monday, the Journalists Association of Albania expressed deep concern over the increase in online attacks against journalists, especially girls and women, in recent days.
“In a tense political climate, we note with alarm the increase in hate speech, intimidation and attempts to denigrate journalists. Their role is to report on daily developments, including those of justice, and no one should intimidate or hinder them in exercising their duty to bring the truth, whatever it may be,” the Journalists Association of Albania said./ BIRN