On Friday, the Tunisian Journalists Syndicate published a statement condemning the arrest of the journalist Khalifa Al-Qasimi, correspondent of Mosaique FM radio station in Kairouan, for five days under the anti-terrorist law, for sharing news about the dismantling of a terrorist cell in Kairouan.
The syndicate stated that “The Attorney General has ordered the detention of journalist Khalifa Al-Qasimi, the correspondent of Mosaique FM radio station in Kairouan, for 5 days” due to publishing a story on the dismantling of a terrorist cell, adding that “the National Unit for Research into Terrorism Crimes of the National Guard in Al-Awina, has investigated with Al-Qasimi for nine hours, after which his was ordered detention for refusing to reveal his sources, in accordance to the law allowing journalists to protect their sources.”
The Syndicate strongly condemned his arrest, stressing that this is a new strike against the press freedom in Tunisia and intimidating journalists in the post July 25 era.
Tunisia has been witnessing a political crisis since last July 25, following the imposition of exceptional measures by Kais Saied, including freezing the Parliament, issuing legislation by presidential decrees, dismissing the prime minister, appointing a new government, and dissolving the Supreme Judicial Council.
Since then, Journalists, human rights activists, and media organisations in Tunisia have been subjected to restrictions, security prosecutions, arrests and judicial harassment.
Recently the security forces arrested a number of Tunisian Parliamentarians, which raised the fears that Tunisia will enter a tyrannical and totalitarian era, during which laws will be violated, and human rights and freedom of expression will be suppressed.
