Freedom of the press under fire: BILD reporters in Berlin threatened

Freedom of the press under fire: BILD reporters in Berlin threatened

after Pro Palestinian demo: BILD reporter in Berlin threatened with knife | News

A difficult attack on freedom of the press shakes Berlin.

The image reporter Iman Sefati (38) was attacked by a pro-Palestinian extremist with a knife on his door in Berlin. This incident happened shortly after a demonstration that Sefati had reported. Particularly threatening: the attacker and an accomplice had apparently followed the journalists to his home.

Sefati, who regularly reports about anti -Semitic and Islamist demonstrations in Berlin and other parts of Germany, was threatened with his dogs at a walk at around 11 p.m. on Friday evening. The black dressed man pulled a knife out of his pocket and approached Sefati threatening. An attentive neighbor on her balcony alerted the surroundings through her scream and threw a flower vase after the attacker. This then took flight, as did his accomplice.

The investigation was immediately taken up by the Berlin criminal police (Kripo) and the LKA, State Security Department. Already on the evening of the following Saturday, the police were able to record a first success. The alleged perpetrator was arrested on an anti -Semitic demonstration in Neukölln. This demonstration, under the slogan "Queers for Palestine", is known to openly rush against Israel.

The incident clearly shows how dangerous the situation for journalists in Germany has become. Fortunately, Iman Sefati was unharmed. Nevertheless, this attack illustrates the necessity of greater protection for journalists who regularly report on delicate and polarizing topics.

The union of journalists (DJU) under Verdi sharply condemned the "fig attack". Renate Gensch, the state chairman of the DJU, called for a "complete clarification of the attack and consistent legal steps against the perpetrators". For them, press freedom is an "indispensable asset" in democracy, which under no circumstances may be restricted by violence.

Iman Sefati had to endure many hostility in the past. His journalistic activity makes him a goal of extremist groups. Sefatis story is as impressive as it is shattering: 25 years ago, he fled to Germany with his mother from Iran after his father was executed by the Mullah regime. The reason: his father had protested against the oppression of women and was therefore considered an enemy of the state. One of the responsible for this execution was Ebrahim Raisi, the later president of Iran, who died in a helicopter crash in May 2024.

The increasing threat to journalists is a serious sign for society. It is essential that politics proactively takes measures to prevent such attacks in the future. This includes stricter security precautions for journalists and more effective legal persecution of the perpetrators. The government must take clear and determined steps to protect the freedom of the press and ensure that journalists can pursue their work without fear of violence or intimidating their work.

- Nag