On 1 February Tunisian journalists raised the slogan ‘’no to assaults against journalists, no to restrictions on freedoms of expression, and no to guardianship over media”, organising a campaign defending freedom of press.
On 27 January, journalists’ syndicates and media bodies released together a statement condemning assaults against journalists, and calling for a day of action to defend freedom of press on 1 February.
“In reaction to the increasing violations of freedoms of opinion, expression, and press, which included physical assaults against, journalists, people of conscience, and media sector employees, carried out by extremist groups hiding behind the mask of religion… , and in reaction to the passivity of the government in dealing with this situation (…)the representatives of professional media organisations invite all media outlets, printed, audio visual, and electronic to dedicate the day of 1 February to addressing the issues of media independence, and freedom of expression (…).”
Media outlets taking part in this campaign have dedicated the day to advocating for freedoms of press and expression, and calling for the criminalisation of assaults against journalists. Representatives of media syndicates and bodies have also met with Mustapha Ben Jaafar, President of the constituent assembly, who said that Tunisia’s new constitution will guarantee freedom of press.
Recent weeks have been tough for journalists in Tunisia. On 4 January two journalists covering a protest organised by university teachers outside the Ministry of Higher Education were assaulted by police officers.
On 7 January the government appointed heads, and editors of stated owned media. Reporters Without Borders, said the appointments were “contrary to the provisions of article 19 of Decree Law No. 2011-116 of 2 November and constitute a flagrant violation of media independence.”
On 23 January ultraconservative Islamists verbally and physically abused journalists and activists showing solidarity with Nabil Karoui, general director of Nessma TV, who is facing charges of “violating sacred values” and “disturbing the public order” for broadcasting the film Persepolis. Meanwhile, journalist Haythem El Mekki, is facing the sack from Tunisia’s national TV for criticising Ennahdha.
Popular Tunisian journalist Haythem El Mekki, is under enormous pressure to resign from national television after been accused of bias. Mekki has been suspended from his position at Tunisian TV station El Watanya I, where he co-hosts a programme that looks at Tunisian news, as the station’s management decide whether to sack him for failing to demonstrate journalistic neutrality.
Free speech advocates believe that Haythem’s anti-Islamist views are the real reason for his suspension.
Mekki is an outspoken critic of islamism, and the interim government presided over by the Islamist party Ennahdha, in particular. He is outspoken on his Facebook page, and personal blog.
Index on Censorship contacted Haythem Mekki for more information on the real reasons behind his sacking.
Index: Has your sacking from National TV been confirmed? It is not official yet. The national TV administration told me to go home and wait for their final decision.
Index: Did they tell you why ? They claim that I’m affiliated with a specific political party, but I have no clue which party they are talking about! This is a pretext. They are sacking me because I’m telling the truth, and I’m revealing the real practices of the government in a successful TV show, which has the ability to influence the public opinion.
Index: The station said that they are considering sacking you because you are not ”unbiased” on your personal blog, and your Facebook page. What do you say about this? It is my personal life! Have they investigated the online political views of other journalists? Of course they have not. Long before this, Islamists launched a defamatory campaign against me; they accused me of mocking the Koran, and threatened me with death. They also protested outside the TV headquarters calling for media reforms. But, instead of asking for cleansing the media sector from loyalists to Ben Ali (former President ousted on January, 14, 2011) they were holding banners against me, and against my co-presenter Elyes Gharbi ! These campaigns and protests are organised by Ennahdha supporters. [Ennahdha is the main Islamist party in Tunisia, which won 40 per cent of votes in the 2011, elections]
Index: How do you see censorship and freedom of press in Tunisia these days? The government is exercising “state terrorism’” against journalists. Defamation campaign, protests against journalists, and threats. (…) Recently, the government appointed heads and editors of state owned media, some of them loyalists to former President. And it was me who they begin with to cleanse the media sector!
Monday 23 January will be remembered as a grim day for freedom of expression in Tunisia.
In addition to the trial of Nabil Karoui, general director of Nessma TV, accused of “violating sacred values” and “disturbing the public order” for broadcasting the film Persepolis, journalists and activists standing in solidarity with the TV station were physically and verbally abused by ultraconservative Islamists.
Krichan was followed as he walked outside the court where the trial was taking place, insulted, and pushed by protesters. When his colleague Hamadi Redissi tried to defend him, he too was physically assaulted.
Krichan is the editor-in chief of the daily Le Maghreb, which describes itself as a newspaper “against all threats to the modern achievements of Tunisia”. The front-page of its 218th issue, published on 22 January included a photo of Karoui, with the headline “the wrong trial.”
Krichen said he lodged a complaint against those who assaulted him. In an interview with Le Maghreb, he expressed his “astonishment” at the passiveness of the Interior Ministry. ”The slogans that were raised, were raised against me as a journalist; the media is the target of these groups”, he said.
Prime Minister Hamadi Jebali condemned the “violation of the physical integrity of Mr. Krichen”, saying that an investigation will be opened, and that the attacker will be punished.
Liliah Weslati, who was also verbally and physically abused while she was protesting outside the court, described the Prime Minister’s intervention as “excellent”, but said she is looking forward to “concrete acts”.
“I don’t like Nessma TV, and I don’t watch it, but I protested for freedom of speech,” she told Index on Censorship.
Weslati held a banner that read “Even in the Quran Satan had the right to talk”. On two occasions, anti-Nessma protesters forcibly took away the banner from her. Other protesters told her to “go back home”. She was even threatened with death. Aymen Amri, Weslati’s colleague, was also attacked as he attempted to videotape the way she was mistreated. He was pushed over, and the camera fell to the ground.
Weslati told Index:
There is a campaign against me on Facebook (…) they are calling me the ‘Devil’s friend’ (…) once I arrived home I changed the jacket I was wearing outside the court, I was afraid they would recognise me.
With the fall of the former ruler Zeine El Abdine Ben Ali, journalists and activists started to breathe. The numbers of police assaults on journalists fell and activists have enjoyed rights and freedoms they never had before: the right to assemble, protest and to criticise.
This kind of brutality, in the name of the religion endangers these new freedoms. In order to avoid establishing a pattern of abuse, in which such assaults are repeated over and over, the Tunisian authorities and the judiciary must act now to bring such extremists to justice.
A Tunis court today delayed issuing a verdict on Nabil Karoui, general director of Nessma TV, a privately-owned television station, and two of his employees, until 19 April. The three are accused of “violating sacred values” and “disturbing the public order,” for airing the French-Iranian film, Persepolis.
The broadcast of Persepolis, which contains a scene where god is depicted as a white-bearded man, sparked a wave of protests in October. The home of Karoui, as well as the headquarters of Nessma TV were attacked following the broadcast. Depictions of god and religious figures are prohibited in Sunni Islam. If convicted, Karoui could face up to three years in prison. “This is a trial of freedom of expression”, he said as he entered court today.
A few dozen protesters from the extreme right gathered outside the court chanting “Karoui, you coward, the religion of Allah should not be humiliated,” and “the people want the fall of the TV station.”
Employees of Nessma, activists, politicians, artists, and citizens also gathered outside the hearing room, to show their support to the TV station in particular, and defend freedom of speech, in general.
Mrs Kadour, a university teacher, described the trial as being “shameful… political and exaggerated” and said that it was unacceptable “to judge people for their ideas.”
Mounira Laajimi, one of the 144 lawyers that filed complaints against the station, deemed the “timing” of the film’s broadcast as “inappropriate,” as it was shown a few weeks before the 2011 elections. “It caused public disorder just before the elections” she added.
On 20 January, Amnesty International demanded that Tunisian authorities drop the charges against Karoui. “Putting Nabil Karoui on trial simply for screening a film which shows fantasy scenes of God is a very troubling development,” said Philip Luther, Amnesty International’s interim Director for Middle East and North Africa.
“The Tunisian authorities must uphold Nabil Karoui’s right to freedom of expression and drop these charges immediately,” he added. The trial is closely watched by free speech advocates, as it is going to indicate to which extent religion imposes restrictions on freedom of speech, in post revolution Tunisia.
