OLPEC celebrates World Press Freedom Day against backdrop of worsening free expression situation
(OLPEC/IFEX) – The following is a 3 May 2008 OLPEC press release: World Press Freedom Day Bleak picture for Tunisian media The Observatory for the Freedom of Press, Publishing and Creation (OLPEC) is celebrating World Press Freedom Day this year against the backdrop of a worsening free expression situation in Tunisia. In fact, despite intense […]
Journalist Taoufik Ben Brik’s family threatened and harassed
(OLPEC/IFEX) – The following is a 24 April OLPEC press release: New wave of police attacks on Ben Brik family The Observatory for Freedom of the Press, Publishing and Creation (OLPEC) is shocked by a recent wave of attacks targeting the family of writer and journalist Taoufik Ben Brik. On the morning of 23 April […]
Comedian released after two months’ imprisonment for imitating President Ben Ali
(OLPEC/IFEX) – The following is an abridged version of a 2 April 2008 OLPEC press release: Tunisian comedian Ouled Baballah released OLPEC welcomes the release of Tunisian comedian Hédi Ouled Baballah on 20 March 2008 on the occasion of the 52nd anniversary of the country’s independence. The comedian received a conditional release after two months’ […]
Comedian jailed for imitating President Ben Ali
(OLPEC/IFEX) – The following is a 9 February 2008 OLPEC press release: A Tunisian comedian in prison for imitating Ben Ali On February 4, Tunisian comedian Hedi Ouled Baballah was sentenced by the court of first instance of Ben Arous (suburb of Tunis) to one year in prison and a fine of 1000 dinars (800 […]
Journalist Slim Boukhdhir sentenced to one-year prison sentence following unfair trial, says OLPEC
(OLPEC/IFEX) – The following is an abridged version of an OLPEC press release: Journalist Slim Boukhdhir sentenced to one-year prison sentence following unfair trial On 4 December 2007, the district court of Sakiet Ezzit (Sfax) sentenced journalist Slim Boukhdhir to a one-year prison sentence and a 5 dinar fine (approx. 3 Euros) for “insulting behavior […]
Journalist Omar Mestiri prosecuted for defamation
(OLPEC/IFEX) – On 29 March 2007, the managing editor of the online newspaper “Kalima”, Omar Mestiri, was summoned by the deputy public prosecutor of the republic, Zied Souidane, to respond to an alleged defamation offence under the Press Code following a complaint filed by lawyer Mohamed Baccar. Mestiri was questioned about an article published on […]
OLPEC condemns defamation campaign against Al Jazeera
(OLPEC/IFEX) – The following is a 2 November 2006 OLPEC press release: Tunisia: After suspending diplomatic relations with Qatar, a campaign against Al Jazeera seeks to shatter freedom of expression The Observatory for Freedom of Press, Publishing and Creation in Tunisia protests against the defamation campaign against Al Jazeera led by the Tunisian authorities and […]
Culture Ministry’s review board censors new play
(OLPEC/IFEX) – The following is an abridged version of a 10 October 2006 OLPEC press release: “Corps-otages” (Khamsoun), a new play by Jalila Baccar and Fadhel Jaibi, is censored in Tunisia The Ministry of Culture’s review board has announced the censorship of playwright Jalila Baccar’s new work, “Corps-otages” (“Captive Bodies”), directed by Fadhel Jaibi. After […]
Harassment of Mohammed Abbou and his family intensifies
(OLPEC/IFEX) – The following is an abridged translation of a 7 May 2006 OLPEC alert: Mohammed Abbou and his family have continued to face harassment after the Tunisia Monitoring Group (TMG) – IFEX mission visit on 20 April 2006. On 6 May, an individual, recognised by Mohammed Abbou’s wife Samia Abbou, to be an agent […]
“Journal Hebdomadaire” target of steady government harassment
(OLPEC/IFEX) – The following is an abridged version of a 5 April 2006 OLPEC press release: Strategies aimed at destroying liberties and muzzling the free press amount to attempts to bring about the demise of “Journal Hebdo” OLPEC is extremely concerned by the recent attacks on freedom of the press in the Maghreb, particularly the […]
Harassment of journalist’s family continues
(OLPEC/IFEX) – The following is an abridged translation of a 15 March 2006 statement by the Conseil National pour les Libertés en Tunisie (CNLT), of which OLPEC is a member: On 13 March 2006, Mohamed Taieb Jallali, a former opposition deputy known for taking positions against unjust laws and a member of the CNLT, recently […]
Imprisoned human rights defender Mohamed Abbou on hunger strike
(OLPEC/IFEX) – The following is an abridged translation of a statement by the CNLT, of which OLPEC is a member: Imprisoned lawyer and human rights defender Mohamed Abbou on hunger strike Incarcerated since 1 March 2006 for publishing an article on the Internet , lawyer and human rights defender Mohamed Abbou has been on hunger […]
Editor’s family harassed after publishing articles critical of the government
(OLPEC/IFEX) – In the days following the World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS), Naziha Rejiba, editor-in-chief of “Kalima” and vice president of OLPEC, received warnings from a source close to the government, informing her that the authorities were displeased over certain articles which she had written that criticized the excesses of the those in […]
Police prohibit gathering of support for Mohamed Abbou in front of El Kef prison
(OLPEC/IFEX) – The following is an abridged version of a 2 March 2006 statement by the Conseil National pour les Libertés en Tunisie (CNLT), an OLPEC partner: Police prohibit gathering of support for Mohamed Abbou in front of El Kef prison A peaceful demonstration directed by nine NGOs from Tunisian civil society was scheduled for […]
OLPEC expresses concern over escalation of censorship
(OLPEC/IFEX) – The following is an 18 February 2006 statement by the Observatory for Freedom of the Press, Publishing and Creation (OLPEC): Upsurge of assaults on the freedom of the press Tunis – OLPEC is alerting the public about burgeoning acts of censorship that are striking the Tunisian and foreign press in Tunisia. Following the […]