Freedom Forum has been concerned over digital harassment meted out against a noted journalist and rights activist Ms Babita Basnet for her article published on March 2.

Ms Basnet had written an opinion article, stressing the need of reviewing law on rape . It was published on www.ghatanarabichar.com on March 2.

With its publication, campaign on social media (Facebook and Twitter) was launched in protest of Basnet and her opinion. Even a coordinated camapaign in Twitter was spread with a hashtag #BoycottBabitaBasnet, thereby meting out digital harassment on rights activist and journalist Basnet.

Talking to FF, journalist Basnet shared that the movement had seriously disturbed her. “I wrote the article based on one of my own case studies and it does not target any individual, group or gender. But, whatever I am facing now for practicing my right to free press and free expression harassed me much. I think it is a deliberate move to ruin my career”, she observed.

To this, Chief Executive at FF, Taranath Dahal viewed, “Every citizen has the right to agree or disagree on anyone’s opinion. Both agreement and disagreement are their rights to free speech. But spreading harsh messages through coordinated campaign and boycotting the opinion writer is sheer instance of intolerance. Such intolerance not only harasses the opinion writer but also affects free speech atmosphere.”