Shocking. It’s the least that we can say of cold-blooded murders of women whose only sin was to dare their own way to raise their voice in an endeavour to bring news to the people at large and contribute to the recognition of women’s status.
On the very day I was writing about “women empowerment” in India, one female reporter and presenter for Shamshad TV, Ms Shokila Sanga Amaaj was murdered in Afghanistan. One of the arrested alleged killers had, in the past, repeatedly threatened her for her determination to become an educated and professional figure.
But that’s not all. Five days later, in the same country, on 6 June another female journalist, Zakia Zaki, head of a radio station “Sada-e-Sulh” (Peace Radio), was shot dead by three armed men who broke in her home. She was sleeping with her two-year-old son and a baby less than six months’ old.
Threats against women journalists have become a major concern for media people and the International Federation of Journalists. The case of another woman journalist, Ms Shaima Raazi who worked for an independent TV channel (again in Afghanistan) murdered two years ago has remained unresolved.
These are cases that have surfaced out in one country. How many of them have remained unidentified and untracked? Which brings me back to my previous posts on the issue of the dangerous nature of the work a journalist. The posts under reference are:
“Journalism – a dangerous occupation”
“Hats off!”
“Reporters and Journalists, beware”
How ironical: empowering women on one side, and I’m tempted to say, “women bashing” on the other.
Mauritian residing in Rodrigues, Amanoola Khayrattee (pen name Alfa King) is contributing writer and journalist to La Gazette Mag de l’océan indien and This Week News Mauritius.
Retired, former meteorological cadre, trade unionist and OSH consultant, Amanoola has written for in-house union and other journals, publications and magazines. He runs two blogs since 2007: “Alfa King Memories”, and “Le Journal d’Alfa King”. When he is not reading or writing, he is on a 10+ km daily hike in anticipation of his monthly trails.
Amanoola may be reached at [email protected].