Newspaper editor Hamma Hammami released from prison
(RSF/IFEX) – RSF has expressed satisfaction following Hamma Hammami’s release from prison on 4 September 2002. Leader of the Tunisian Communist Workers’ Party (PCOT) and managing editor of the party newspaper “El-Badil”, Hammami was officially released for “health reasons.” “We are delighted,” said RSF Secretary-General Robert Ménard. “It is the result of a months-long campaign […]
Supreme Court upholds newspaper editor’s jail sentence
(RSF/IFEX) – RSF has protested the Tunisian Supreme Court’s confirmation on 2 September 2002 of Hamma Hammami’s three-year and two-month prison sentence for “subversion”. Hammami is leader of the Tunisian Communist Workers’ Party (PCOT) and managing editor of the party newspaper, “El-Badil”. “We are appalled by this decision, which demonstrates the determination of President Zine […]
Newly released journalist sentenced to a further eight months in prison
(RSF/IFEX) – RSF has voiced its outrage over the eight-month prison sentence imposed on 23 August 2002 on newly-released journalist Abdallah Zouari. The journalist was sentenced for refusing to comply with an order banishing him to the south of the country. A former contributor to the banned weekly “Al Fajr”, Zouari has now returned to […]
Newly released journalist rearrested after appealing against banishment
(RSF/IFEX) – On 21 August 2002, RSF protested the arrest of journalist Abdallah Zouari, of the banned weekly “Al Fajr”, on 19 August. His arrest follows his recent release from prison, where he languished for more than 10 years. Zouari’s arrest appears to stem from a recent administrative order issued by the Interior Ministry, banishing […]
Internet journalist sentenced to two years and four months’ imprisonment
(WiPC/IFEX) – The WiPC of International PEN condemns in the strongest terms the prison sentence handed down to Internet journalist Zouhair Yahyaoui. According to information received by PEN, Yahyaoui, who uses the pseudonym Ettounsi (the Tunisian), was sentenced to two years and four months’ imprisonment on 20 June 2002 by the Tribunal de Première Instance […]
CPJ protests arrest and prosecution of online editor Zouhair Yahyaoui
(CPJ/IFEX) – In a 19 June 2002 letter to Tunisian President Zine al-Abidine Ben Ali, CPJ protested the arrest and prosecution of Zouhair Yahyaoui, an Internet café employee and editor of the online publication “Tunezine”. On the evening of 4 June, plainclothes state agents detained Yahyaoui at an Internet café in the capital, Tunis. Authorities […]
Journalist arrested, online newspaper censored
(RSF/IFEX) – RSF has protested the 4 June 2002 arrest of Zouhair Yahyaoui, founder and editor of the online newspaper “TUNeZINE”, and the government’s suppression of the newspaper’s website. “Barely two weeks after the referendum on the constitution, whose proposed amendment would supposedly boost human rights in Tunisia, President Zine el-Abidine Ben Ali has shown […]
Journalist from French daily “Le Monde” barred from Tunisia
(RSF/IFEX) – On 17 May 2002, RSF denounced the Tunisian government’s “disgraceful” refusal to allow Jean-Pierre Tuquoi, a reporter from the French daily newspaper “Le Monde”, into the country to cover the 26 May constitutional referendum. “In the past month, the Tunisian regime has targeted two foreign journalists,” noted RSF Secretary-General Robert Ménard in a […]
Editor of banned newspaper sentenced to nine years’ imprisonment
(RSF/IFEX) – The following is a 3 February 2002 RSF press release: RSF outraged over sentencing of Hamma Hammami to nine years’ imprisonment The organisation asks the European Union to cease suppporting the Z. Ben Ali regime Reporters sans frontières (RSF) is outraged over the nine-year and three month prison sentence pronounced on Saturday 2 […]
Editor of banned newspaper expected to come out of hiding
(RSF/IFEX) – On 13 January 2002, during the broadcast of “Espace francophone”, a programme on the London-based television channel Al Mustakillah that RSF sponsors, host Jean-Michel Boissier announced that Hamma Hammami will be “coming out” of hiding with three of his friends, Abdeljabbar Madouri, Samir Taamallah and Ammar Amroussia. In the last few days, the […]
New complaint filed against Al Mustakillah television station
(RSF/IFEX) – For the second time in six months, President Ben Ali’s regime has decided to take the London-based Arabic-language television station Al Mustakillah to court. Station director Mohammed Elhachmi Hamdi has been informed that a complaint was lodged against him with the Independent Television Commission (ITC, a British body responsible for issuing licenses and […]
Tunisian opposition figures prevented from communicating with the outside world
(RSF/IFEX) – In a letter to Tunisian President Zine el-Abidine Ben Ali, RSF protested the fact that a large number of foreign telephone numbers have been made inaccessible from Tunisia and that many opposition figures’ telephone lines have been cut. Access to the Internet has also become extremely difficult and mail sent to opponents does […]
Journalist Taoufik Ben Brik’s wife’s vehicle vandalised
(RSF/IFEX) – In a letter to Minister of the Interior Abdallah Kaâbi, RSF expressed its concern following the vandalising of Taoufik Ben Brik’s wife’s vehicle. RSF Secretary-General Robert Ménard urged the minister to “put an end to the acts of intimidation against the journalist’s family.” “Once again, the Tunisian authorities have demonstrated their cowardice by […]
Taoufik Ben Brik’s documents confiscated at the airport
(RSF/IFEX) – In a letter to President Zine el Abidine Ben Ali, RSF protested the confiscation of Taoufik Ben Brik’s documents at Tunis-Carthage airport. Robert Ménard, the organisation’s secretary-general, asked the president “to order the return of the documents to the journalist.” “This act demonstrates, once again, that the Tunisian authorities wish, by any means, […]
Issue of “Le Monde Diplomatique” banned
(RSF/IFEX) – In a letter to Minister of the Interior Abdallah Kaabi, RSF protested the ban on the October 2001 issue of “Le Monde Diplomatique”. “The Tunisian governement systematically bans foreign newspapers when they contain articles that displease it,” said Robert Ménard, the organisation’s secretary-general. “We ask for an explanation on this censorship measure,” he […]
Journalist Taoufik Ben Brik’s sister and brother-in-law on trial
(RSF/IFEX) – In a letter to Minister of Justice Bechir Takkari, RSF expressed its deep concern on the eve of the opening of the trial of Saïda Ben Brik and Khemaies Mejri, sister and brother-in-law of Taoufik Ben Brik, respectively. RSF Secretary-General Robert Ménard asked the minister to “consult with the relevant authorities to ensure […]