The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) Wednesday strongly condemned the humiliating and degrading treatment suffered by four female journalists who were stripped naked in public in Kenema District Eastern Sierra Leone, the global media rights body said in a communique. The journalists were covering events marking the International Day Against Female Circumcision when they were attacked and abducted by supporters of a Pro-Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) group. We condemn this serious assault and violation of the right to dignity which can have traumatic effects, said Gabriel Baglo, IFJ Director for Africa Office. We expect the authorities to apply the full force of the law to the perpetrators and to eradicate the lawlessness that has led to numerous incidents of violence against journalists over the recent months. The journalists were reportedly stripped naked and forced to march through the streets of Kenema on Monday. They were only freed after the intervention of the police and human rights organizations.
