Threats against the lives and limbs of journalists, Danka Derifaj, Split, 13.8.2021.

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Threats against the lives and limbs of journalists, Danka Derifaj, Split, 13.8.2021.

Translations: Zagreb 

  • Case info

  • Personal info

  • Regional center
    Zagreb
  • Who was attacked?
    Journalist
  • Gender
    Woman
  • Victim(s) name
    Danka Derifaj

  • Media outlet

  • Name of the media outlet
    RTL
  • Type of media platform
    Television
  • Source of information about the incident
    Medij

  • Incident Data

  • Date of incident
    13.08.2021
  • City
    Split
  • Were authorities informed?
    Case was reported to the police
    Case was reported to the Prosecutor’s Office
  • Perpetrator(s)
    Not known
  • Attacked by
    (ordinary) citizens
  • Means of incidents and attacks
    Posts or comments on social networks
  • Type of incident
    Threats against the lives and physical safety of journalists
  • Type of threat
    Explicit - to journalist(s)

  • Action by the authorities

  • Type of violation
    Security threat

  • Action taken by the journalists' association

  • Was journalist's association informed by the journalists directly?
    Yes
  • What was the reaction of the journalists' association?
    The association reacted publicly
    The association sent a letter of concern to the institutions
    The association informed international organizations and institutions

Due to her journalistic assignment, journalist Danka Derifaj on August 12, 2021. climbed to the roof of the building together with the tenant’s representative Branko Miodrag, so that he could show her what the roof looks like after Marko Perković Thompson turned it into his yard, even though it is on the adjacent plot of land. Marko Perković Thompson, a singer, accused journalist Derifaj of breaking into his property and intimidating his children, he announced on his official Facebook page, after which Thompson’s fans started insulting the journalist and threatening her. The comments focused on how journalists should be killed, how Thompson should get a security guard and a “journalist afterwards heal wounds if she stays alive”, and also called on war veterans to stand in “defense” of the singer’s children. For days, untruths related to this event were published on the narod.hr portal, which continued to target the journalist Derifaj. In their response to the media, the police replied that there was no burglary or other crime at that location that day.

Danka Derifaj filed criminal complaints against several unidentified individuals over threats and hate speech made online, while her lawyer Jadranka Sloković also announced the possibility of initiating proceedings concerning the responsibility of Marko Perković Thompson for encouraging such an atmosphere.