What does Solidarity of Journalists express?

Every year September 8 is celebrated as the World Day of Solidarity of Journalists. National Association of Independent Media of Tajikistan (NANSMIT) asked the opinion of journalists about the manifestation of professional solidarity.

Yoqub Halimov, journalist:
In my opinion, professional solidarity is concluded in support and mutual understanding of professionalism, common sense, bravery, art, fairness and other professional qualities of each other. If I say that there is no consensus in the journalism community of Tajikistan, I have not said anything new. But I want to say that the first of all it should be clarified: who is our colleagues? The law says that anyone who works in the media/ creates articles is a member of journalistic organizations – is a journalist. The theory and ethics of journalism has established a scale of many dos and don’ts, based on which it is checked which media worker/member of a journalistic organization is a journalist and which one is not. Also, journalistic values have been defined and established, which can be criterion for consensus.

Considering these two issues, unfortunately, I cannot call all media workers/members of journalistic organizations colleagues and agree with them, their creations, opinions and views.

Salimakhon Vahobzoda, journalist:
We have very weak solidarity among journalists in Tajikistan, it exists, but it does no act boldly, actively and biasedly. Perhaps journalists do not see or feel support, protection, sympathy, or even financial support when a journalist is in trouble. At the same time, many impostors-journalists have penetrated the rank of journalist, who accept freedom of speech in their own way (insult individuals, reveal state secrets through their articles, etc..) They do not comply with media laws and ethics. From here comes the secret hatred of the authorities and even society for journalists. Decent and professional journalists suffer from this. Therefore, when one journalist raises his voice against the excess of this or that state official, rarely does anyone stand up for him. Some, fearing pressure from their leadership, while others from “well-wishers”….

Ardasheri Payvand, journalist:
As it is known, journalism is one of the most dangerous professions in the world. If we pay attention to the annual statistics of torture, persecution, beatings and arrests of journalists, we will see that our colleagues are under pressure in autocratic and closed countries and even in developed and powerful countries. Therefore, there was a need to establish the World Day of Professional Solidarity of Journalists.
Of course, professional solidarity is the reaction and stance of the journalistic community in the face of injustice and lawlessness of certain circles against journalists. However, it can be seen that the countries journalists are not united and their solidarity is rare and even the activities of journalistic organizations have been called into question.

Ramziya Mirzobekova, journalist:
Journalist solidarity is what we had before and lost in recent years. In the journalistic community, there is no mutual support factor left at all. Even if we somehow consider such support obligatory for ourselves, we would not do it directly; we would even transfer the help through third parties, for the sake of the check mark, most likely. Previously, we had a very strong one, in the case of Dsaleri Imomali there was an attempt to resume it again, but as we remember, several editors then behaved in a completely unethical way. Moreover, they were trying to convince someone that they are not in solidarity with journalists. In principle, this is a natural process, when you, as a journalist, protect yourself from social problems, then later you begin to protect yourself from the problems of your colleagues. Therefore, in the end, even the last stronghold falls, those media that tried to do their job conscientiously are also forced to selectively approach topics, because there is an understanding that even colleagues will not show solidarity.

Farzona Murodi, journalist:
Professional Solidarity is primarily mutual respect between colleagues. In our opinion, it is a support of each other morally and if necessary, materially. At this time, when defeating professional journalists by any means become a tradition, professional solidarity is more necessary that ever.

Emomali Sayidzod, journalist:
To be honest, I came to the field of journalism at a time when professional solidarity was very rare. Journalists have already divided themselves. Not all of them defended their colleagues in the incidents that happened to them. But today this situation is worse than ever.

Now not only is there little solidarity, they are even rubbing salt on each other’s wounds. Perhaps Tajik journalism did not remember such a shameful situation until today. All this was demonstrated more clearly by the recent events that happened to our colleagues, which even a blind eye, could see. In the full sense, there is almost no professional solidarity in Tajik journalism, except for a few young and veteran journalists who did not sell their shame, honor and conscience.

Mazhab Juma, journalist:
Professional solidarity first of all manifests itself from self-respect and colleagues. That is, the simplest issue, when you get news from media, you should indicate the first source and be able to work with your colleagues. In this regard, respect for oneself and each other in press conferences and other gatherings is one of the main principles of professional cooperation. Unfortunately, we see that most of our colleagues bring up personal problems at press conferences and take other people’s time with some private issues. Another issue that I would like to point out, and which unfortunately exists among journalists today, is the separation of private (or international) from state ones. The recent case of journalists revealed this issue even more, and we witnessed how most of our colleagues, especially the state media and some private media, were not only indifferent to their fate and case, they even devoted several pages of their weekly newspapers against them. In this direction, unfortunately, our solidarity is very low. This is the reason why some authorities, who are hunting for journalists, become lion-hearted and do not like journalists. That is, they achieved their goal: they made a difference between Tajik journalists and now they are judging.

Dilorom Zokirzoda, journalist:
The answer to the question “Is there solidarity in the new community of Tajikistan?” is simply “no.” In fact, among Tajik journalists and in particular different groups of journalists representing the state and non-state media, there has never been a unity of opinion and unity in relation to crisis situations. There was no position. Unfortunately, this year, the work space for journalists has become more limited and, it is said, more dangerous than before: the General Prosecutor’s office and other disciplinary authorities threatened the “Asia-Plus” company that it should not follow the situation in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs under any circumstances, otherwise it will be closed. Independent journalists Daleri Emomali and Abdullah Ghurbati are behind bars and charged with “extremism” only for their courage in questioning the state authorities about the way they perform their professional duties, and Zavqibek Saidamini and Abdusattor Pirmuhammadzoda for defending these two colleagues; journalists of Radioi Ozodi were beaten and their work equipment confiscated in broad daylight, but it is not known whether the authorities or not… These are just a few examples of the state of press freedom in Tajikistan this year, which, unfortunately, it happens with the arbitrariness of the authorities, but the community of journalists seems to have watered in their mouth. Most of the organizations that are active under the slogan of protection of the press and journalists, unfortunately, conclude their existence once or twice a year by presenting high prices to journalists who are in the eyes of the authorities. In other crisis situations, only scattered voices of international media can be heard, but it must be said that spring does not happen with a single flower. Dispersion and disunity of journalists in Tajikistan is for the benefit of those who do not want the progress of society, for the benefit of those authorities who want to act arbitrarily without taking into account the opinion of the public and the people, and in this case active and independent press not in their interest. Such a situation does not have good consequences and prevents society from progress and development.

Prepared by Rukhshona Hakimova

Monitoring service of NANSMIT