The Committee to Protect Journalists condemns the raid and calls on authorities to unconditionally allow Al-Jazeera's Tunis bureau to resume operations and let all journalists in the country work freely.
This statement was originally published on cpj.org on 26 July 2021.
In response to news reports that Tunisian security forces today stormed Qatari broadcaster Al-Jazeera’s Tunis bureau, ordered staff to leave the building, confiscated equipment, and barred staff from returning, the Committee to Protect Journalists issued the following statement:
“Today’s raid by Tunisian security forces on Al-Jazeera’s bureau jeopardizes the country’s bellwether status for press freedom in the region, 10 years after Tunisians fought to begin a transition to democracy,” said CPJ Senior Middle East and North Africa Researcher Justin Shilad. “Tunisian authorities must immediately and unconditionally allow Al-Jazeera’s Tunis bureau to resume operations and let all journalists in the country work freely.”
The raid came a day after Tunisian President Kais Saied fired Prime Minister Hichem Mechichi and froze parliament’s activities, amid protests over the government’s handling of the COVID-19 pandemic and economic issues, according to news reports.
