Colombian President Gustavo Petro is facing criticism from press freedom groups after some comments he made about female journalists, calling them “mafia dolls” in one of the most dangerous countries for journalists in South America.
Petro made this statement, without irony, on the occasion of the inauguration of Colombia’s new human rights ombudsman, Iris Marín, on August 30 — the first woman to hold the position.
Petro, the South American country’s first leftist president, has often faced criticism from the media, which he has accused of conspiring with armed groups, business tycoons or other powerful individuals.
Some say he has gone too far in a country where dozens of threats and attacks against female journalists are reported each year.
In his address, Petro launched a scathing criticism of “the power’s (female) journalists, the ‘dolls of the mafia'”, who he said had denounced the 2019–2021 protests against the right-wing government that preceded him.
Petro, who was an MP at the time, supported those protests.
It is not clear why they specifically targeted women journalists.
The criticism was intense, and Petro attempted to clarify that he was speaking about “female journalists of the power establishment appointed by dark forces,” but the statement he made did little to quell the outrage.
Marín later said that “there is no room for stigma” for female journalists in Colombia.
“Nothing justifies it.”
‘It reinforces gender stereotypes’
Reporters Without Borders (RSF) has described Colombia as “one of the continent’s most dangerous countries for journalists”, where two journalists have been killed so far this year.
The Flip Press Freedom Foundation says Petro’s statements are being used as the basis for online content “that is violent or reinforces gender stereotypes.”
The foundation reported 171 cases of threats and attacks against female journalists since last year – though it did not specify their nature.
Petro has on several occasions accused journalists of “spreading genocide” in collaboration with right-wing paramilitary groups.
“We are concerned about the tense climate for journalistic work in Colombia, which has been exacerbated by Petro’s hyperbolic comments,” said Carlos Jornet of the Inter-American Press Association (IAPA).
Petro is not the only Latin American leader to have a hostile relationship with the press.
Other notable examples include former presidents such as Andrés Manuel López Obrador of Mexico, Rafael Correa of Ecuador and Jair Bolsonaro of Brazil.
The “doll” comment, however, was the Colombian leader’s first attack on journalists based on gender.
“Stigma kills, it shortens lives, it shortens dreams, it shortens careers…” Colombian journalist and newscaster Claudia Palacios said in a video sent to AFP about Petro’s comments.
Several other news personalities have also condemned these statements, sparking a heated debate online in the country.
Contacted by AFP, the presidency stressed that it “recognises the key role women journalists play in strengthening democracy and advancing public debate.”
On Monday, Petro signed an order — a first for the U.S. — that would prevent public servants — including himself — from “stigmatizing” journalists.
But what could have been a moment of reconciliation was turned on its head when the president once again used the launch to take aim at none other than the media.
In his address, Petro accused journalists of defaming him for defending him against media “slanders.”
“This is a lost opportunity,” FLIP director Jonathan Bock reacted after the event.
On Tuesday, a petition was filed before Colombia’s Council of State — the highest court for administrative matters — seeking an order directing Petro to apologize for his “mafia doll” remarks.
(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)
