Tunisia: 29 assaults against journalists during second round of legislative elections

Tunisia: 40 attacks documented on journalists in January

According to its monitoring unit, the National Syndicate of Tunisian Journalists (SNJT) revealed on Friday that 29 journalists had been assaulted during their coverage of the second round of legislative elections between 15-30 January. It emphasised that the assaults increased compared with the first round of the legislative elections of 2019, calling on the Independent High Authority for Elections (ISIE) to open an investigation into the assaults.

In its monthly report, published on its official website, the SNJT said two assaults took place before voting day while the other 27 assaults were during voting day. The SNJT noted that the assaults targeted 14 female journalists and photographers out of a total of 29 journalists.

‘Big failure’ as Tunisia sees only 9% voter turnout – Cartoon [Sabaaneh/Middle East Monitor]

The SNJT confirmed that the journalists were attacked during the coverage of the second round in thirteen governorates: nine attacks took place in Tunis, five attacks in the governorate of Kairouan, four in the governorate of Gafsa, two attacks in each of the governorates of Nabeul and Beja and one attack in each of Sidi Bouzid, Siliana, Monastir, Mahdia, Ben Arous, Bizerte and Ariana governorates.

The SNJT asserted that most of the abuses were related to the ISIE’s refusal to provide journalists with information, accusing the ISIE of: “Putting illegal obstacles to the free flow of information.” It pointed out that its monitoring unit recorded twelve cases of withholding information, eleven cases of thwarting of work and six instances of harassment.

The SNJT reported that the heads of polling centres conducted most of the assaults, and it held them responsible for twenty-two attacks, all related to withholding information about the progress of the electoral process and preventing journalists from working.

The SNJT called on the presidency of the republic to: “Provide real guarantees for freedom of the press and expression away from political discourse, and to develop a national action plan based on a participatory approach with professional structures that considers the needs of the sector.”

The SNJT recommended the ISIE to open a: “Serious investigation on the assaults perpetrated by the heads of the centres and the subordinate bodies, and to present the results of these investigations to the SNJT and public opinion during the announcement of the final results of the second round of the legislative elections.”

Attacks against journalists and freedom of expression have largely increased since the President Kais Saied assumed presidency in 2019, and intensified even more following his power grab move in July 2021 which granted him far-reaching executive powers.

The syndicate recorded attacks in several cities across the north African county, notably the capital Tunis, Kairouan and Gafsa. Attacks were also recorded in Nabeul, Monastir and Beja.

Most of the attacks were in relation to the journalists’ right to obtain information, according to the report, in light of the obstacles placed by the Electoral Commission to the free flow of information.

The syndicate’s monitoring unit documented 12 cases of withholding information, 11 cases of preventing professionals from carrying out their work, in addition to six cases of harassment.

المخابرات الفرنسية تُهرّب الصحفية”أميرة بوراوي” بطريقة هوليودية نفذتها بتواطؤ ضباط تونسيين..تفاصيل!

11 journalists working for six media institutions were attacked outside the election voting period. The incidents include prohibiting the journalist from carrying out their job, and verbal abuse. Other cases include incidents of censorship, harassment and incitement.

The syndicate has called on the Independent High Authority for Elections “to seriously investigate the committed attacks”, and called on Tunisian state television to review its statutes, specifically regarding freedom of expression.

Additionally, the electoral authority was accused of “threatening” freedom of expression in December, after it sued a number of outlets and bloggers for alleged violations during a poll on the new constitution, implemented by Saied to boost his powers.

Tunisia has been condemned by rights groups for its cyber crime law – Decree 54 – that has been used to violate the right to privacy and allows for law enforcement to access any information or device, in a bid to stifle criticism directed at Saied.

The country has also recorded several instances where journalists, activists and dissidents have been arrested for critiquing the president, while police forces have often seized media equipment from broadcast stations.