| Country | AL |
| Name and Surname | Ola Xama |
| Gender | Female |
| Date | 15/07/2023 |
| City / Location | Tirana |
| Type of incident | Other threats to journalists |
| By whom | By public officials |
| Type of media | online |
| Media name | BIRN Albania |
| Source | https://www.reporter.al/2023/07/15/organizatat-e-medias-denojne-sulmin-e-veliajt-ndaj-gazetares-ola-xama/ |
| Was journalist`s association informed | Yes |
Following an investigative piece published by Ms. Xama and BIRN Albania on the ongoing investigation by SPAK on the case of the incinerator in Albania on 13th July, Mayor Veliaj launched a verbal attack on the journalist. The article, which presents an analysis based on the data from SPAK regarding this case, names various high-level officials including the mayor himself, and was produced with a commitment to public interest and investigative integrity.
The mayor was offered the opportunity to comment prior to the publication of the article, which he refused. Post-publication, he launched a personal assault on Ms. Xama, referring to her as “You are not a journalist, you are a contract killer” in a WhatsApp message. This alarming verbal assault was followed by disturbingly similar rhetoric from other media outlets (here, here, here), further enhancing the hostile environment for the journalist.
