The Association of Journalists of Macedonia (AJM) strongly react to the publicly expressed threats to life as well as insults described on the social media profile of the person Arben Esati and calls on the Ministry of Interior (MOI) and the Basic Public Prosecutor’s Office (PPO) to act immediately to do not put our colleagues at risk.

On the social network “Facebook,” a person with a profile named Arben Esati recently posted a threatening text followed by vulgar words to the media UNCENSORED, TV 21, GAZETA EXPRESS, TETOVA SOT, KOHA TV, KOHA News, Kumanovo SOT, TV Shenja, Lajmi press. In his post, he publicly threatens journalists working in these media with the words: “I will cut your fingers,” “I will lose my job, but I will take your life wherever you are,” “Not the police, but “Even the army can not save you, I will rape your women, you and your sisters,” “I will rape your children.”

These threats follow the local media’s announcements that have taken the news from the Serbian media regarding the father of the person Esati. This doctor allegedly offered to work in Serbia, which was followed by various reactions on social networks.

We point out that hate speech and threats to life are crimes provided for in the Criminal Code. The Ministry of Interior and the Public Prosecutor’s Office should urgently investigate and prosecute those who violate the law to prevent possible acts caused by hatred.

The Association of Journalists of Macedonia (AJM) submitted a request to the Ministry of Interior and the SIA Tetovo for prompt action and urgent measures against Arben Esati. The Ministry of Interior informed us that they are taking steps to clear up the case as soon as possible. We remind you that journalists’ safety and the right to free speech are the basic features of a country aspires to be democratic. Therefore, explicit threats to journalists and close family members’ lives must be sanctioned for journalists to practice their profession safely.