Tunisia

(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 […]

(RSF/IFEX) – In a letter to Minister of the Interior Abdallah Kallel, RSF protested the assault on Sihem Bensedrine, director of the online weekly “Kalima” (hosted by RSF at www.kalimatunisie.com), Omar Mestiri and Mohammed Bechri, both human rights activists, by police officers in Tunis. RSF Secretary-General Robert Ménard asked the minister “to quickly punish the […]

DR. MONCEF MARZOUKI, TUNISIAN HUMAN RIGHTS DEFENDER, IN COURT THIS WEEKEND ON CRIMINAL CHARGES – ARTICLE 19 CALLS FOR CASE TO BE DROPPED ARTICLE 19, the Global Campaign for Free Expression, today called for charges against Tunisian human rights activist Moncef Marzouki to be dropped before his case comes to court on Saturday 16 December.(1) […]

(RSF/IFEX) – In a letter to Minister of the Interior Abdallah Kallel, RSF protested the confiscation of Taoufik Ben Brik’s books at the Tunis airport. RSF Secretary-General Robert Ménard asked the minister “to return the books to the journalist.” “Though we thought that the pressures brought to bear against Taoufik Ben Brik had eased, this […]

(RSF/IFEX) – In a letter to Minister of Communications Afif Hendaoui, RSF expressed its concern about the most recent delay in the distribution of the French weekly “Jeune Afrique – L’Intelligent” in Tunisia. RSF Secretary-General Robert Ménard noted that “the delay is clearly a form of censorship utilised by the Tunisian authorities who, once again, […]

**Updates IFEX alerts of 12, 9 and 1 May, 27, 24, 14, 12, 11, 10, 6 and 4 April 2000** (RSF/IFEX) – The following is an RSF press release: 6 September Press release : for immediate release Tunisia Taoufik Ben Brik will return to his country on 7 September The journalist Taoufik Ben Brik will […]

(HRW/IFEX) – The following is a Human Rights Watch press release: Tunisia Sacks Rights Activist from University Post (New York, August 3, 2000) — Human Rights Watch today condemned the decision of the Tunisian authorities to dismiss prominent human rights activist Dr. Moncef Marzouki from his post as professor of medicine at the University of […]

(RSF/IFEX) – In a letter to Minister of Communications Afif Hendaoui, RSF expressed its concern about the delays in the distribution of the French weekly “Jeune Afrique – L’Intelligent”, in Tunisia. RSF Secretary-General Robert Ménard said that: “These repeated delays are a form of censorship by Tunisian authorities, who, once again, are targeting foreign publications […]

(IPI/IFEX) – In a 31 May 2000 letter to President Zine al-Abidine Ben Ali, IPI stated that it is deeply concerned at the Tunisian government’s readiness to extend retribution to family members of journalists, and its tolerance of the climate of hate which is encouraging others to attack the media. On 2 May, Tunisian journalist […]