Dozens of journalists and human rights activists protested Thursday in Tunis against the policy they describe as repressive of power, aiming according to them to intimidate the media.
"No to the repression of journalists", "We demand an independent and free press", "Shame on the presidency which wants to restrict the freedom of journalists", in particular chanted the demonstrators gathered near the offices of the presidency of the government in Tunis, according to an AFP correspondent on site.
Some demonstrators wore red tape on their mouths in allusion to the will given to power to muzzle the media.
Representatives of civil society and activists from the Tunisian Human Rights League took part in this demonstration at the call of the National Union of Tunisian Journalists (SNJT).
A large police force was deployed to supervise the demonstrators and prevent them from approaching the seat of government.
"The authorities want to bring the private and public media to their knees and the arrest of the director of (the private radio station) Mosaïque FM is just an attempt to intimidate this sector," said Mahdi Jlassi, president of SNJT.
According to Mr. Jlassi, "the power is disturbed by the content of Mosaïque's programs but this repressive policy will not undermine the will of journalists to defend their freedom", the main achievement of the revolution which overthrew the dictatorship of Zine el Abidine in 2011. Ben Ali.
In a meeting Thursday with head of government Najla Bouden, President Kais Saied dismissed criticism and "lies" about the state of freedom of expression in the country.
"Has any newspaper or program been censored? He defended himself, adding that no journalist has been prosecuted for their journalistic work.
President Saied also denounced criticism from the West and international organizations which are worried about a decline in freedoms in the country, stressing that "Tunisia is an independent and sovereign state and is not a colony". .
Ten personalities were arrested between Saturday and Monday, including Noureddine Boutar, boss of Mosaïque FM, very popular in Tunisia. During his interrogation by an examining magistrate, the questions focused on the editorial line of this radio station and the criteria for the choice of columnists, his lawyers said.
On Wednesday, the National Salvation Front (FSN), the main opposition coalition in Tunisia, denounced the "repressive" policy of President Saied-- who assumed full powers in July 2021-- after a series of arrests in political and media circles.
02/16/2023 17:51:32 - Tunis (AFP) - © 2023 AFP
