I reproduce a worrying news published by the press agency AnsaMed on new threats to freedom of the press in Tunisia. Our correspondent in Tunisia, Ilaria Guidantoni, will keep us informed about the evolution of the situation. A situation already reported, in May 2017, by Reporters Without Boarders and numerous other NGOs because the government was voluntarily delaying the application of the liberal legislation on freedom of press (Law N ° 22 of March 24, 2016) and the Ministry of the Interior had closed a newspaper, in April 2017, on the basis of the state of urgency, without the prior authorization of a judge. It was the first time that this ban was practiced since January 14, 2011.

Tunisia: journalists’ union, ‘return of repressive practices’
Series of complaints related to police checks

(ANSAmed) – TUNIS, 29 January 2018 – The National Union of Tunisian journalists (Snjt) has denounced in a statement the return to repressive practices against journalists.
“The Union has received a series of complaints from journalists about police checks and alleged spyings of their phone calls.” The SNJT expresses its concern at these practices that resemble those of the old regime, and warn against the bad reputation of the Minister of the Interior, which would have left his officials to act in this way, since he is at the helm of the dicastery, “reads the statement. The Tunisian journalists’ union declares that if the attacks on journalists continue, they will bring the matter before the competent UN offices and it holds the President of the Republic and the Prime minister responsible, as they are bound to ensure the respect of the freedom of the media and journalists in the country.