Freedoms of expression and opinion are increasingly fading in Tunisia a few months before the presidential election to be held on October 6, 2024. This is the observation made by the Intersection association in a report presented at the end of July 2024. This NGO, which works on human rights and freedoms, has listed known cases of imprisonment for opinion in Tunisia since January 2024. The results are overwhelming.
2 min
With our correspondent in Tunis, Lilia Blaise
At the press conference to present their new report, members of the Intersection association listed the cases: 25 violations in total, targeting journalists, lawyers, politicians, bloggers and even ordinary citizens who tried to express their opinion and who ended up in prison, since the beginning of 2024.
“ Already last year alone, there were 30 arrests that fall under Decree 54, a repressive decree that was issued to combat cybercrime, but which in fact targets anyone who expresses an opinion critical of the government.r, points out Ghaylen Jelassi, one of the authors of the reportThis decree has even affected artists such as the young Rached Tamboura who has been in prison for over a year for graffiti on the President of the Republic. »
With the start of the election period in Tunisia This summer, Ghaylen Jelassi fears an increase in attempts at intimidation or silencing. It is not only the election period, but also the current climate of fear that affects both well-known personalities and young people. We have listed examples of citizens, who want to remain anonymous for fear of reprisals. During the election period, there are also attempts to intimidate citizens who try to collect sponsorships for candidates. This makes us fear the worst, especially after the election. »
The association also recalled in its report that freedom of expression and opinion is normally guaranteed in the new constitution of 2022. The country still does not have a constitutional court.
Also listen toCarrefour du Maghreb – Freedom of expression under pressure in the Maghreb