Media Institute of Southern Africa (MISA)

In a letter to AU leaders, the groups welcomed the designation of 2010 as the “Year of Peace and Security in Africa” and called for the issue of journalists’ safety to be addressed.

The IFEX-TMG strongly condemns the 15 July arrest of journalist Fahem Boukaddous, who is in poor health, and calls on Tunisia’s partners to speak out to help save his life.

The IFEX-TMG urges authorities to end to the “shameful use of the judiciary to stifle free expression and punish critical journalists” follow ing confirmation of a four-year sentence for Fahem Boukaddous.

Independent journalists, including Taoufik Bouachrine and Ali Amar, are increasingly being targeted by the authorities.

The IFEX-TMG, a coalition of 20 IFEX members, condemns the Tunisian Chamber of Deputies’ adoption of a new law hastily tailored to stifle freedom of expression both inside and outside the country.

Following a recent mission, members of the TMG concluded in their new report that Tunisia needs a truly independent judiciary to reverse its worsening record on human rights and treatment of prisoners of opinion.

Members of the TMG invite the Washington Media Group to take the opportunity of its new relationship with Tunisia to point out to the government that the best way to improve its image abroad is to bring its practices up to international standards of basic human rights.

Recalling UNESCO’s stated commitment to free expression on World Press Freedom Day, 30 IFEX members call for the organisation not to accept a $3 million donation from President Teodoro Obiang for the administration of an international prize in life sciences.