AJM: Threats Against Journalist Rami Mislimi Must Be Met with a Swift and Effective Judicial Response

The Association of Journalists of Macedonia (AJM) strongly condemns the serious death threats made against Rami Mislimi, a journalist with the news portal Tetova Sot, for which a formal complaint was filed today with the Sector for Internal Affairs in Tetovo.

According to the police report, following the publication of a news article and a comment related to the President of the Tetovo Municipal Council, Albi Kamili, journalist Rami Mislimi was first contacted by telephone by Kamili, who, according to the complaint, issued serious threats against both the journalist and his minor child, demanding that he remove the published content from the news portal and social media.

The police report further states that later, in the immediate vicinity of the Municipality of Tetovo, Mislimi was approached by an individual who identified himself as Albi Kamili’s brother and, according to the complaint, made additional threats, telling him that “one camera will not protect you.”

Such threats constitute a direct attack on media freedom, the public’s right to information, and the safety of journalists. Threatening a journalist because of his professional work, particularly when the threats extend to members of his family, represents an unacceptable attempt to intimidate and silence critical reporting.

We call on the Ministry of Interior and the Basic Public Prosecutor’s Office to act promptly, thoroughly, and effectively upon the complaint, establish all the circumstances of the case, and ensure appropriate criminal accountability for those responsible.

We remind the public that, following the amendments to the Criminal Code, attacks and threats against journalists while performing their professional duties are subject to enhanced criminal law protection, with journalists in such cases enjoying the same legal protection as public officials. Therefore, we expect the competent institutions to consistently apply the relevant legal provisions and send a clear message that threats and violence against journalists will not be tolerated.

AJM will closely monitor the development of this case and will provide colleague Rami Mislimi with all necessary legal and professional support. At the same time, we call on all public officials, political actors, and citizens to refrain from hate speech, threats, and any form of pressure against journalists and media workers, as the safety of journalists is a fundamental prerequisite for free, independent, and professional journalism.