Other attacks towards journalist Ola Xama, 15/07/2023, Tirana

Tirana •︎ 16/07/2023

Other attacks towards journalist Ola Xama, 15/07/2023, Tirana

Translations: Tirana 

  • Case info

  • Personal info

  • Regional center
    Tirana
  • Gender
    Female
  • Victim(s) name
    Ola Xama

  • Media outlet

  • Name of the media outlet
    BIRN Albania
  • Type of media platform
    Online Media
  • Source of information about the incident
    https://www.reporter.al/2023/07/15/organizatat-e-medias-denojne-sulmin-e-veliajt-ndaj-gazetares-ola-xama/

  • Incident Data

  • Date of incident
    15.07.2023
  • City
    Tirana
  • Perpetrator(s)
    Known (suspected)
  • Attacked by
    Authorities - individuals
  • 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

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.