NAZÎHA BOSAÎDÎ

Tunisia- Tunisian journalists went on a nationwide general strike on April 2 upon the call of the National Syndicate of Tunisian Journalists (French: Syndicat National des Journalistes Tunisiens-SNJT) to protest governmental interference in public media and to defend the freedom of speech and freedom of the press in the country. On April 2, dozens of journalists gathered in front of the national channel of Tunisia and shouted slogans such as “No to marginalization” and “No to the prosecution of journalists”. NuJINHA spoke to Tunisian journalists about the situation of journalists in the country.

“The only weapon is neutrality”

Journalist Maysa Fatnasi spoke about problems faced by journalists.

“The situation of journalists in the country is not good. Their working conditions are very bad. After the revolution, the situation of journalists is getting worse day by day. The freedom of journalists is restricted. The only weapon of the journalists is neutrality and discipline. I cannot say that I have faced gender-based restrictions but this does not mean that women journalists don’t face discrimination. Women journalists, who faced discrimination, don’t give up and continue to work.”

Commenting on the call for the strike, she said that the strike was an important step for journalists to demand their rights.

Pressures on women journalists

Amira Mohamed, a member of the SNJT, stated that the union has taken steps and released statements to protest the policies carried out against journalists. Amira Mohamed also told us that they will continue to hold protests in front of relevant media outlets. Stating that there are many women journalists in Tunisia, she said, “Unfortunately, they face online threats, harassment, and attacks. They also face discrimination at the workplace.”

 No access to information

 “After July 25 last year, we started to worry about freedom of expression and the state of the press. Journalists are denied the right to access information. Government officials do not give any information to journalists,” Reem Soudi, a member of the SNJT, told us.

 Euro-Med Human Rights Monitor also released a statement and stated that security forces used violence against journalists.