In Tunisia, while the electoral authority kicked off the electoral period on Sunday, July 14, the climate around the media is becoming increasingly harsh. The Tunisian Journalists’ Union published a press release on Monday, July 15, recalling the need for free and independent media to cover the electoral period, in a context where intimidation against journalists is increasing.
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haswith our correspondent in Tunis, Lilia Blaise
Control of public broadcasting, freezing of the work of the television media regulatory body, imprisonment of journalists. It is in this tense context that the journalists’ union published a press release on Monday, July 15, to recall the importance of guaranteeing freedom of the press, essential for the smooth running of democratic elections.
Because the examples of violations of this freedom are accumulating.
Since May 11, two star journalists from a morning radio show, Borhen Bsaies and Mourad Zeghidiare behind bars. They are serving a one-year prison sentence for their political analysis and commentary.
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On July 6, the journalists’ union denounced the withdrawal of an article announcing the candidacy of an opponent of the president by the official press agency, TAP, and also condemned its decision not to cover a press conference of the Free Destourian Party, the party of the opponent. Abir Moussiimprisoned since October 2023.
And the media’s rein in also involves judicial intimidation. This Monday, the legal representative of the independent journalistic site Nawaat received a summons from the El Gorjani criminal brigade in Tunis to appear on Tuesday, without giving the reasons for this request.
Read alsoFreedom of the press: in Tunis, journalists denounce an unbreathable climate