Other attacks on journalist Ola Xama, 01/03/2024, Tirana

Tirana •︎ 04/03/2024

Other attacks on journalist Ola Xama, 01/03/2024, Tirana

Translations: Tirana 

  • Case info

  • Personal info

  • Regional center
    Tirana
  • Who was attacked?
    Journalist
  • Gender
    Female
  • Victim(s) name
    Ola Xama

  • Media outlet

  • Name of the media outlet
    Birn, Reporter.al
  • Type of media platform
    Online Media
  • Source of information about the incident
    https://www.facebook.com/ola.xama

  • Incident Data

  • Date of incident
    01.03.2024
  • City
    Tirana
  • Perpetrator(s)
    Known (suspected)
  • Attacked by
    Public person(s)
  • Type of incident
    Other threats to journalists
  • Type of threat
    Aggressive, harassing or discriminatory statements

  • Action by the authorities

  • Action taken by the journalists' association

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

On 1 March 2024, the investigative journalist Ola Xama working for BIRN, was targeted by a smear campaign by the news portal Prapaskena, followed by Dita Newspaper on 3 March. The news portals resorted to personal attacks, ‘slut-shaming’, the exposure of her private address, and attacks on her family members. Both articles referred to the publication on 13 July 2023 of her investigative report revealing the involvement of high-level politicians in the corruption of waste management in Tirana. The BIRN document-based investigation disclosed that the project on managing public waste through waste incinerators was initiated by Tirana Mayor Veliaj. Although Veliaj firmly denied having played an active role, he reacted to the article published by Ola Xama by launching personal attacks against the journalist via WhatsApp.

Journalist Ola Xama has filed a civil lawsuit against the “Prapaskena” portal and another lawsuit against “Dita Newspaper”. The reaction of journalist Xama can be found here.