Investigative journalist Emilia Șercan faces online harassment and death threats following critical reporting on justice minister
The International Press Institute (IPI) on Friday condemned ‘online smears, harassment and death threats targeting IPI member and prominent Romanian investigative journalist Emilia Șercan.’
The attacks following her reporting on alleged plagiarism in Justice Minister Radu Marinescu’s PhD thesis.
IPI said in stood ‘in full solidarity with Șercan and calls for a swift police investigation into all serious threats made against her safety.”
On January 12, Ms Șercan published an article in outlet PressOne alleging that more than half of the justice minister’s PhD thesis contained plagiarized content.
Following the publication, Marinescu denied the article’s findings, questioning the timing and motives behind the reporting, a press release said.
Marinescu’s statements were then echoed by politicians, media outlets, journalists, and online influencers.
The ruling Social Democratic Party (PSD) issued a public statement personally attacking Șercan, falsely claiming the investigation was a politically motivated attempt to remove the minister.
Șercan, a well known and respected journalist says she received hundreds of messages involving intimidation, discreditation, and direct death threats on social media.
In response to the harassment, she has announced legal action against the television channel România TV, accusing its reporters of publicly harassing her in retaliation for her reporting.
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