Journalist banished to remote south of the country, launches hunger strike to protest authorities’ refusal to allow him to visit family
(Human Rights Watch/IFEX) – The following is a Human Rights Watch press release: Tunisia: Internal Exile Used to Silence Dissident (Paris, February 1, 2005) – Tunisian authorities should stop harassing journalist and former political prisoner Abdallah Zouari, and end his banishment in the remote south of the country, Human Rights Watch said today. Since Zouari […]
Tunisia Monitoring Group expresses serious concerns over continued free expression violations in the country ahead of WSIS Preparatory Committee meeting in Geneva
(IFEX-TMG) – The following is an IFEX-TMG press release: Tunisia – Serious concerns for World Summit on the Information Society A joint monitoring visit to Tunisia undertaken by members of the International Freedom of Expression Exchange (IFEX) has found serious cause for continuing concern about the current state of freedom of expression and of civil […]
Court upholds heavy prison sentences against eight Internet users
(RSF/IFEX) – RSF has voiced outrage over the Tunisian Court of Cassation’s 8 December 2004 decision to uphold heavy prison sentences against eight Internet users from the southern city of Zarzis. The organisation also reiterated its outrage over the mistreatment to which the defendants were subjected in detention. The eight Internet users were convicted of […]
Authorities block access to organisations’ websites
(Human Rights Watch/IFEX) – The following is a Human Rights Watch press release: Tunisia: Police Use Force to Block Rights Meeting Government Brands Human Rights Group’s Gathering ‘Illegal’ (Paris, December 14, 2004) – Tunisian police used force to block a human rights gathering on Saturday, demonstrating once again the state’s intolerance for independent human rights […]
IFJ calls for World Summit on the Information Society in Tunis to focus on media freedom and workers’ rights
(IFJ/IFEX) – The following is a 24 November 2004 IFJ media release: IFJ Calls for Tunis Information Society Summit to Focus on Workers Rights and Media Freedom The World Summit of the Information Society, planned for Tunis late next year, could turn out to be the most disappointing of all United Nations global events in […]
RSF bemoans uniformity of Tunisian press
(RSF/IFEX) – The following is a 22 October 2004 RSF statement: Press votes for Ben Ali in presidential election “I find all the newspapers on my desk every morning. I leaf through them all. But it is enough to read one, I don’t need to read the others. The same photos, the same articles, the […]
CJFE to present International Press Freedom Awards to African journalists, Tara Singh Hayer Memorial Award to missing Franco-Canadian journalist
(CJFE/IFEX) – The following is a 20 October 2004 CJFE media advisory: African Journalists under Siege to be Recognized Awards Dinner focuses on harsh restrictions on freedom of expression in Africa Canadian Journalists for Free Expression (CJFE) will present two International Press Freedom awards to African journalists and a Memorial award to a missing Franco-Canadian […]
IFJ urges journalists to challenge government control of media
(IFJ/IFEX) – The following is an IFJ media release: IFJ Urges Tunisian Journalists to Challenge Political Controls of Media With parliamentary and presidential elections less than a month away, the International Federation of Journalists has called on Tunisian journalists to confront governmental and political threats to press freedom. The General Secretary of the IFJ, Aidan […]
Appeal Court upholds ruling against Internet users
(RSF/IFEX) – RSF has protested heavy sentences upheld on appeal against six Internet users in the southern city of Zarzis. The six were accused of using the Internet to plot terrorist attacks. Their 19-years-and-three-month sentences were reduced on appeal to 13 years’ imprisonment. The convictions were based entirely on confessions extracted under duress and not […]
Press freedom organisations call on organisers of World Summit on the Information Society to reconsider their plans to hold follow-up summit in Tunis
(WPFC/IFEX) – The following is a resolution on Tunisia passed by members of the Coordinating Committee of Press Freedom Organizations, meeting in Belgrade for World Press Freedom Day, 3 May 2004. The organisations that have signed on to the resolution are listed below: INTER AMERICAN PRESS ASSOCIATION INTERNATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF BROADCASTING INTERNATIONAL PRESS INSTITUTE WORLD […]
Eight Internet users convicted of terrorism, sentenced to up to 26 years in prison
(RSF/IFEX) – On 6 April 2004, a Tunis court sentenced eight Internet users from the southern city of Zarzis to up to 26 years in prison. The convicted Internet users were accused of promoting terrorist attacks on the sole basis of files they downloaded from the Internet. RSF voiced shock and outrage over the sentences […]
President Ben Ali suppresses demonstration in support of press freedom
(RSF/IFEX) – RSF has condemned the recent suppression of a demonstration in support of a free and independent press. On 27 March 2004, police dispersed members of human rights and political opposition groups who had gathered in front of the state broadcaster’s headquarters in Tunis. “With the stroke of a pen, the winner of the […]
Imprisoned journalist Abdallah Zouari on hunger strike for past month
(RSF/IFEX) – RSF is concerned about the health of Abdallah Zouari, a journalist from the suspended Islamist weekly “Al-Fajr” who has been carrying on a hunger strike since 27 January 2004 to protest the worsening of his prison conditions. On their last visit, his family, who had not been allowed to see him for two […]
CPJ urges President Bush to raise press freedom issues with Tunisian leader
(CPJ/IFEX) – The following is a 12 February 2004 CPJ press release: CPJ URGES PRESIDENT BUSH TO RAISE PRESS FREEDOM ISSUES WITH TUNISIAN LEADER February 12, 2004, New York-The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) today called on U.S. President George W. Bush to raise the issue of Tunisia’s deplorable press freedom record in his upcoming […]
EU advised to save money by cancelling media aid programme
(RSF/IFEX) – RSF has urged the European Union to cancel a 2.15 million euro (approx. US$2.73 million) funding programme for the Tunisian news media, which is officially described as being designed to “strengthen the press as part of improving ties between the media and civil society in Tunisia.” In a letter to European Commission President […]
Authorities block publication of independent newspaper “Kalima”
(RSF/IFEX) – RSF has accused the Tunisian authorities of blocking the development of an independent press in the country after journalist Sihem Bensedrine failed in her attempt to register the weekly newspaper “Kalima”. Bensedrine was turned away when she tried to begin the registration process for the bilingual publication at the Interior Ministry’s offices on […]