Mae Azango, a reporter for the daily FrontPage Africa and the news website New Narratives, told the international press freedom watchdog Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) that she has gone into hiding after receiving several threats for an article she published on Thursday about Liberian tribes practicing female genital mutilation on as many as two out of every three girls in the country.
“They left messages and told people to tell me that they will catch me and mutilate me so that will make me shut up,” Azango said. “I have not been sleeping in my house.”
Wade Williams, the editor of FrontPage Africa, said that several people around town had confronted her over the article, which was widely discussed on radio programs. Williams also said that the newspaper and its personnel were receiving threatening phone calls.
“They said that for us putting our mouth into their business, we are to blame for whatever happens to us,” she said.
Azango told CPJ that she had notified police and was waiting for an investigation to begin.Liberia’s deputy police director, Al Karley, told CPJ that the investigators would look into the threats.
“Liberian police must immediately investigate these threats and ensure the safety of Mae Azango and other FrontPage Africa staff,” said CPJ Africa Advocacy Coordinator Mohamed Keita.
“The people behind these threats seem to be secure that they can act with impunity. Authorities must send a clear message that threats of violence are crimes, and that they will uphold the law.”
Azango won a grant from the US-based Pulitzer Center in November for reporting on reproductive issues, FrontPage Africa reported.
Reporters across West Africa told Bikyamasr.com said that women’s issues and investigative reports on tribal practices can find the reporter facing a backlash.
In Nigeria, reporter Mary, who has since left the profession and uses a pseudonym, said that when she first began reporting on the role of faith and reproduction in rural areas, “I faced violent attacks, even had my sister beaten because of what I was writing and researching.”
She added that for those like Azango, “it is something that they will continue, or in my case, move into a field where we still write and report, but through an organization that can protect us. As individual reporters we struggle in Africa, especially us women, to be safe.”
Personally Activists that are on the ground have reached to me telling me how they have been threatened even by some government officials!! She is one of the most active foot soldier on the ground she is in hiding as we speak. so people who reallt don't know our people (AFRICANS) do not paint a different picture outside because you are being lied to, our people are two faced especially when they can smell money they will tell you anything you want to here and even praise you for nothing!!. but when you leave they are back to their old ways.
Ambassador Lucy MashuaAssisting and advocating for U.S. refugees and women’s rightsGlobal Ambassador for Ending Female Genital Mutilation (FGM)Leading the Worldwide Campaign Against FGMLobbying for HR 2221:The Girl's Protection Act sponsored by Rep. Joseph Crowley and Rep. Mary Bono Mack. and S 1919 introduced by Senator Harry Reid,http://twitter.com/Mashuahttp://mashuavoiceforthevoiceless.blogspot.com/http://www.facebook.com/pages/Mashua-Against-FGM/225406701415
