Global journalists’ body to file complaint against Tunisia over crackdown on protests

By Yosra Ounas

TUNIS, Tunisia (AA) – The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) said Thursday it considers filing a complaint with the International Labor Organization (ILO) against the Tunisian government over its crackdown on demonstrators.

In a statement, the IFJ condemned the launch of a criminal investigation by the Tunisian authorities against Mohamed Yassine Jelassi, the head of the Journalists Syndicate.

It termed the charges of incitement to disobedience against Jelassi over his coverage of a protest in July 18, 2022 against a recent constitutional referendum as “serious and fabricated”.

This targeting “comes as part of an attack against the freedom of expression and press in Tunisia, which seriously threatens the gains made by the 2011 revolution,” it added.

The IFJ called on the Tunisian authorities "to respect their international commitment and to stop using judicial and security mechanisms to solve problems that can only be settled by dialogue and negotiation."

On Tuesday, Jelassi said he was asked to appear for investigation into charges of assaulting a police officer and hindering traffic.

Tunisia has been in the throes of a deep political crisis that aggravated the country's economy since 2021 when President Kais Saied ousted the government and dissolved parliament.

Since then, Saied held a referendum to draft a new Constitution last July and parliamentary elections in December.

While he insists that his measures were meant to "save" the country, critics have accused the Tunisian leader of orchestrating a coup.

*Writing by Ahmed Asmar