(CPJ/IFEX) – The following is a 24 May 1999 CPJ press release: **Updates IFEX alerts of 21 May, 20 May, 14 May, 28 April, 29 January and 13 January 1999 and 24 June 1998** For Immediate Release CPJ Alarmed by Arrest of Tunisian Journalist Taoufik Ben Brik New York, N.Y., May 24, 1999-The Committee to […]
(CPJ/IFEX) – The following is a 24 May 1999 CPJ press release:
**Updates IFEX alerts of 21 May, 20 May, 14 May, 28 April, 29 January and 13
January 1999 and 24 June 1998**
For Immediate Release
CPJ Alarmed by Arrest of Tunisian Journalist Taoufik Ben Brik
New York, N.Y., May 24, 1999-The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ)
expressed its alarm over the arrest today of journalist Taoufik Ben Brik, a
freelance reporter working for a number of European newspapers, including
the Paris-based daily La Croix.
At around 11:00 a.m. local time, Ben Brik was arrested without warrant by
Tunisian authorities in the capital Tunis. He was held for about three hours
and released at 2:00 p.m. Earlier in the day, police surrounded Ben Brik’s
home and attempted to arrest him. He reportedly refused to accompany the
police because they did not have a warrant for his arrest. He then fled his
home and took refuge with his brother before being arrested.
To CPJ’s knowledge, authorities have not announced a reason for the arrest,
although the incident occurred after a series of escalating attacks against
Ben Brik in recent weeks in apparent response to his published criticism of
human rights violations in Tunisia, his coverage of sensitive domestic
issues, and his attempts to publicize incidents of harassment directed
against him.
On May 20, Ben Brik was violently assaulted outside his home by three
chain-wielding men believed to be plainclothes policemen. Over the past
year, Ben Brik has been the target of repeated harassment by Tunisian
authorities and presumed state agents. On April 28, he was prevented from
leaving the country for a planned trip to Switzerland after police at
Tunis-Carthage Airport confiscated his passport. He has been summoned to the
Interior Ministry for questioning over his published work and his efforts to
publicize his harassment. His telephone and fax lines have been regularly
interrupted, his wife’s car was vandalized in front of their home in
January, and he has received anonymous threatening phone calls.
“This intimidation and violence must stop immediately,” said CPJ’s executive
director, Ann K. Cooper. “We urge President Ben Ali to take all necessary
measures to prevent further attacks and ensure Taoufik Ben Brik’s safety.”
On May 3, 1999, World Press Freedom Day, CPJ, for the second consecutive
year, named Ben Ali one of the world’s 10 worst Enemies of the Press for his
efforts in transforming Tunisia’s once respectable press into one of the
most restricted in the Arab world.
CPJ’s recently released briefing document, “Tunisia: A Decade of Stifling
the Press,” is now available on CPJ’s website at
The Committee to Protect Journalists is an independent, nonprofit
organization that works to safeguard press freedom around the world.
