The Tunisian Journalists Syndicate accused the country’s authorities of “carrying out unlawful security and judicial prosecutions against a number of journalists for carrying out their work.”
The syndicate issued a statement saying that “the government had completed disavowed its commitments and responsibilities, despite the syndicate’s efforts to open serious and dialogue with the authorities.”
“The meeting of the syndicates’ executive committee comes amid a serious crisis that threatens the democratic path, media freedom and the targeting of civil and political society.”
The syndicate warned of “the dangers of reaching a deadened and disregarding the rights of journalists and all Tunisian citizens to live in a democratic state that guarantees the implication of the constitution and the pledges made by the Tunisian state for many years.”
The syndicate also called for “respecting the principle of media freedom and the right to union work, stipulated in the constitution and in all international treaties and charters, and the adoption of the principle of participation and dialogue when it comes to making any decision about the sector.”
The syndicate decided to hold “a series of protests, where the starting point will be from the syndicate headquarters. These protests coincide with the World Press Freedom Day on May 3,” adding that “the rest of the protests will be announced later.”
Since July 25, 2021, Tunisia has been going through a political crisis, following the imposition of presidential exceptional measures, including freezing the Parliament’s competencies, issuing legislation by presidential decrees, dismissing the prime minister, and appointing a new one, and dissolving the Supreme Judicial Council.
These measures resulted in Journalists, human rights activists and media organisations in Tunisia being subjected to restrictions, security and judicial prosecutions, as well as arrests based on their activities.
