Media freedoms in Tunisia: Fears of a turning tide
As Tunisia nears its two-year anniversary of the ousting of President Ben Ali, worries of receding media freedoms grow
“There is fear of a return to a Ben Ali-like system,” says Fahem Boukadous, veteran journalist and freedom of expression advocate, as he reflects on the state of Tunisia’s media two years after Mohamed Bouazizi’s self-immolation in the town of Sidi Bouzid in central Tunisia in December 2010.
“We are witnessing not only a lack of political will to reform the media sector and protect the integrity of media professionals, but also a strategy from the government to grab control of the Tunisian media,” says Boukadous, who co-founded Tunis Centre for Press Freedom in February 2011.
The centre is a continuation of a journalist syndicate founded in 2004 and a committee to protect journalists set up in 2009. Both of which were oppressed by the former regime, Boukadous says.
Attacks on journalists escalating
An increase in media freedom that followed the ousting of President Ben Ali in January 2011 prompted the establishment of the press freedom centre to protect the newfound rights. Two years on, those rights are at risk, Boukadous says:
“There is no question that we have gained media freedoms in Tunisia. There is a diversity of print, online and broadcast media, both private, community and state-owned. Journalists, activists and citizens are determined to protect this right.
“That said, instances of censorship are reported and violence against media professionals is intensifying to unprecedented levels. Attacks against journalists are committed by police, Salafist groups and individual citizens.”
Journalists encouraged to speak out
With Tunisia’s government offering only few attempts to address the situation for the country’s journalists, the Tunis Centre for Press Freedom aims to support the establishment of a sound legal environment for the media, says Boukadous:
“Our ambition is to support a legal framework that protects and promotes free, independent and strong media in Tunisia, as well as to train journalists, particularly the young and women journalists from the regions.”
With presidential and parliamentary elections coming up in June 2013, he expects a further growth in attacks and violations against the media:
“We encourage journalists to speak out when their rights are violated and they have come forward. But censorship, which is growing, is most critical and journalists are still reluctant to go on the record.”
IMS supports the monitoring and documentation unit of the Tunis Centre for Press Freedom, which investigates, documents and publicises attacks on media professionals and violations of journalists’ rights.
