Tunisia

(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 […]

(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 […]

(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 […]

(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 […]

(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 […]

(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, […]

(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 […]

(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 […]

(RSF/IFEX) – RSF is protesting the travel ban imposed on journalist Sihem Bensedrine. “The journalist’s papers were in order. This is a violation of her right to travel freely. The authorities decided to do everything possible to ensure that the journalist is no longer able to express herself abroad,” said RSF Secretary-General Robert Ménard. The […]

(RSF/IFEX) – Not content with attacking its opponents in Tunisia, President Ben Ali’s regime decided to launch a legal action in England against the London-based Arabic television station Al Mustaquilla. The station’s director, Mohammed el Hachmi Hamdi, was informed by a British law firm that Tunisian judge Jedidi Ghnia had filed a suit against him. […]

(RSF/IFEX) – On 5 July 2001, the judge who is presiding over the Sihem Bensedrine case ordered that the journalist remain in detention. “This decision is scandalous. We will continue our efforts to demand Sihem Bensedrine’s release,” stated RSF Secretary-General Robert Ménard. “But the French authorities and international institutions must also react firmly to this […]

(RSF/IFEX) – Sihem Bensedrine was arrested at the Tunis airport upon her return from France on 26 June 2001. She was placed under a committal order and incarcerated at the prison for women in Manouba (a western suburb of Tunis). She is accused of having broadcast “false news with an aim towards disturbing public order” […]

(RSF/IFEX) – In a letter to Minister of Justice Bechir Takkari, RSF expressed its deep concern on the eve of the opening of legal proceedings against 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 […]

(CPJ/IFEX) – The following is a 22 May 2001 CPJ press release: Who Shot Riad Ben Fadhel? On anniversary of assassination attempt against Tunisian journalist, CPJ calls for justice New York, May 22, 2001 – The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) today called on the Tunisian government to bring to justice the perpetrators of last […]

(RSF/IFEX) – The following is a 29 March 2001 open letter by nine international human rights organizations: AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL AVOCATS SANS FRONTIÈRES EURO-MED HUMAN RIGHTS NETWORK INTERNATIONAL FEDERATION FOR THE LEAGUES OF HUMAN RIGHTS (FIDH) HUMAN RIGHTS WATCH INTERNATIONAL SERVICE FOR HUMAN RIGHTS OBSERVATORY FOR THE PROTECTION OF HUMAN RIGHTS DEFENDERS REPORTERS WITHOUT BORDERS WORLD […]

(RSF/IFEX) – In a letter addressed to the Minister of the Interior Abdallah Kaabi, RSF protested the banning of two foreign publications, “El Mustaqilla” and “Salama”. RSF Secretary-General Robert Ménard asked the minister “to cancel this decision.” “Not content to prevent Tunisian journalists from expressing themselves freely in their country, the government bans all foreign […]