Threats against the lives and physical safety of journalists, Fatos Hetemi dhe Irfan Maliqi, Viti, 11.11.2023

Translations: Pristina 

• Case info

• Personal info

• Regional center

  Pristina
• Who was attacked?

  Group
• Group members' names and surnames

  Fatos Hetemi dhe Irfan Maliqi

• Media outlet

• Name of the media outlet

  Plus TV
• Type of media platform

  Radio
  
• Source of information about the incident

  Plus TV

• Incident Data

• Date of incident

  11.11.2023
• City

  Viti
• Perpetrator(s)

  Not known
• Attacked by

  (ordinary) citizens
  
• Type of incident

  life_threat

• Action by the authorities

• Action taken by the journalists' association

• Was journalist's association informed by the journalists directly?

  Yes

Journalists Fatos Hetemi and Irfan Maliqi from the local media outlet Plus TV were threatened with death.

The editors of Plus TV have informed the Association of Journalists of Kosovo about receiving death threats from a Facebook account. These threats came after the publication of their recent media coverage on the two mosques in the Municipality of Vitia.

“The threats to kill are addressed to PlusTV journalist Irfan Maliqi and director Fatos Hetemi. These threats are in reaction to Plus television’s series of reports on the problems and concerns regarding the mosques in Skifteraj and Ramnishte, both located in this municipality. According to the Islamic Community of Vitia, which is affiliated with the BIK, the two mosques, one in Skifteraj and the other in Ramnishte, are not within the BIK’s control or management and are frequented by suspicious individuals”.

Plus TV stated that they have notified the Kosovo Police in the Gjilan Region about the threats.

AJK considers the threat very serious and dangerous and strongly condemns it.

AJK invites the Kosovo Police to ensure the safety of journalists and other media workers and work intensively on identifying and arresting the individual responsible for the threat.