The National Union of Tunisian Journalists (SNJT) warned on Monday of an increase in violence targeting media professionals, with a clear increase in attacks recorded during the month of September.
According to the monthly report from the SNJT monitoring unit, 13 attacks were recorded out of 15 reports received, compared to 9 cases recorded in August. This violence affected 16 victims – 7 women and 9 men – including 12 journalists and 4 photographers, from 12 different media: 5 radio channels, 4 television channels, 2 news sites and a written newspaper.
The union notes that the security forces are at the top of the perpetrators of attacks on three occasions, followed by citizens and local officials (2 cases each). Other isolated incidents have been attributed to legal parties, media owners, government officials, journalists, event organizers, and unknown persons.
The attacks took various forms: four cases of concealment of information, four obstructions to the exercise of journalistic work, two cases of harassment, as well as incitement to hatred, threats and verbal violence.
The SNJT report specifies that the majority of attacks took place in the governorate of Tunis (10 cases), compared to two in Nabeul and only one in Sousse. In 11 cases, the attacks occurred on the ground, and in two others, in virtual space.
Faced with this situation, considered worrying, the union called on the authorities to activate the Access to Information Authority as quickly as possible and to cancel circulars No. 19 and No. 4, as well as all restrictive procedures imposed on the press, in particular the journalistic work request form required by certain ministries.
The SNJT finally urged the government to guarantee the safety of journalists and to sanction the perpetrators of violence, recalling that press freedom remains an essential pillar of Tunisian democracy.
