79:
representatives from across the political spectrum. The work of the IFEX-TMG in consistently raising freedom of expression issues both inside
Tunisia and on the international stage during the country's darkest years was widely praised, while opinions on how the transition process is unfolding were freely given. A full report is being issued on 1 June 2011.
200:
Free expression violations in
Tunisia continue to run rampant, six months after the government attracted controversy for muzzling civil society activists during the World Summit on the Information Society last November, according to a new report by the IFEX Tunisia Monitoring Group, which undertook a
299:
Grant the council the means and guarantees to effectively manage the judges’ career (recruitment, promotion, relocation and discipline) and in particular modify law 67-29 of 14 July 1967 to include a rule that forbids the relocation of magistrates without their consent and due consideration of their
187:
In
September 2005, members of the IFEX-TMG returned to Tunisia to assess whether free expression conditions had improved since the first report. It found systematic censorship of newspapers and books; blocking of Internet sites; systematic surveillance of e-mails and telephones; denial of the right
99:
The report records a number of recurring cases of harassment, surveillance, and imprisonment of journalists and human rights activists some of whom have been detained in harsh conditions, physically harassed and dismissed from their jobs. Others have been denied their rights to communicate and move
103:
A pot-pourri of administrative sanctions used to limit free expression and exert indirect pressure on journalists and human rights defenders are also addressed. These include denying licences to independent and opposition media, the harassment of critical journalists and human rights defenders and
263:
Ensure that prison conditions and the treatment of prisoners comply with the standards specified by international law such as the United
Nations Minimum Rules for the Treatment of Prisoners and the Convention Against Torture, to which Tunisia is party, and that any allegations of ill treatment or
209:
Following a mission to
Tunisia in February and March 2007, the IFEX-TMG launched its fourth report – Freedom of Expression in Tunisia: The Siege Holds – in Cairo, Washington, Paris and Geneva. The report, available in English, French and Arabic, states: "a lack of positive change has led us to
78:
A mission carried out in April 2011 post-revolution took place in an entirely different context. In stark contrast to previous missions, the delegation of seven IFEX-TMG member groups was able to meet and talk openly with civil society groups, human rights activists, journalists, bloggers and
251:
End the practice of prosecution and imprisonment of journalists, lawyers, activists and others who voice dissent on common law offences or under counter-terrorism legislation; cease other forms of harassment including monitoring of phones and emails and blocking access to the
95:
It draws from research and interviews during the IFEX-TMG's seventh mission to
Tunisia, conducted between 25 April and 6 May 2010. The IFEX-TMG found that there had been a significant deterioration of human rights in Tunisia since the last IFEX-TMG mission in 2007.
284:
Cease using oblique tactics to strangle critical newspapers, banning issues, and pressuring kiosk owners not to sell, and citizens not to buy such newspapers and lift all impediments to starting up truly independent newspapers, broadcasters and
233:
The following 18 recommendations are based on the statements made by the wide variety of civil society representatives which the IFEX-TMG mission members met in April/May 2010 and the IFEX-TMG's thorough assessment of the situation in
Tunisia.
264:
torture are properly investigated and those responsible for the abuses are brought to justice. Tunisian and international independent human rights organisations should be permitted to visit prisons, and to make their findings public.
241:
Drop all charges against journalist Fahem
Boukadous, sentenced in January 2010 to four years in prison for allegedly taking part in social protests which he was merely covering, and whose appeal hearing is due to be heard on 22 June
255:
Repeal all provisions in the Penal Code, Press Code and other relevant laws which criminalise the peaceful exercise of the rights to freedom of expression, association and assembly; this should include the decriminalisation of
277:
Refrain from influencing decisions on naming editors-in-chief of newspapers and from applying pressure on employers, including media outlets, to fire, not to hire in the first place, or to harass, critical journalists and
92:"Tunisia needs a truly independent judiciary to reverse its worsening record on human rights and treatment of prisoners of opinion." This is a key conclusion of the latest IFEX-TMG mission to Tunisia in April/May 2010.
308:
Ensure that any criticism – especially of other, independent journalists and advocates – falls within the parameters of a voluntary editorial code of ethics and does not cross the line to deliberate defamation.
295:
Refrain from undue interference in the election of the
Superior Council of Magistrates and put in place an effective, transparent and fair election model of the majority of the magistrates by the magistrates
259:
Review the 2003 anti-terrorism legislation in line with the
January 2010 recommendations of the UN Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms while countering
291:
Cease harassing critical journalists and activists when they travel abroad or return; refrain from unnecessary searches, as well as the confiscation of books passports and IDs, to effectively prevent travel
380:
267:
Grant legal registration to Tunisian non-governmental organisations that work with current and former political prisoners and other human rights NGOs and to allow them to carry out their legitimate work
107:
Another chapter analyses the tactics the Tunisian authorities have employed in an effort to prevent the emergence of an independent judiciary, in spite of its national and international obligations.
281:
Allow all journalists and activists – regardless of their views – access to information, including press conferences held by opposition politicians and visiting foreign dignitaries.
274:
Ensure that public advertising and state subsidies managed by the Agency for External Communication are fairly distributed among media outlets, regardless of their editorial stance.
219:
490:
434:
245:
Release all prisoners of opinion detained for their publicly expressed political, religious or other beliefs and who have not used violence or advocated violence or hatred.
620:
428:
115:
From 14 to 19 January 2005, six members of the IFEX-TMG conducted a fact-finding mission to Tunisia, where they met with writers, publishers, editors, journalists,
625:
597:
25:
271:
Stop blocking blogs, websites and Facebook groups which contain alternative news and opinions, or are operated by human rights groups and political parties.
218:
The IFEX Tunisia Monitoring Group believes that Tunisia must abide by its international obligations as a signatory to UN human rights treaties, such as the
320:
350:
344:
374:
248:
End the persecution of former political prisoners and their families and lift restrictions on their right to earn a living and other basic rights.
223:
48:
416:
356:
392:
304:
The IFEX-TMG recommends media practitioners, state-owned media outlets, as well as private outlets that are close to the government to:
494:
51:(WSIS), the IFEX-TMG called attention to Tunisia's failure to respect international human rights standards as the summit's host.
332:
67:
338:
458:
29:
440:
386:
210:
conclude that the Tunisian government has sought to further stifle dissidents since the previous TMG report of May 2006."
47:
and works to raise international awareness of censorship in the country. In the lead-up to, and during, the November 2005
164:
ownership, with only one private radio and one private TV broadcaster, both believed to be loyal supporters of President
630:
560:
59:
534:
521:
Behind the Façade: How a Politicised Judiciary & Administrative Sanctions Undermine Tunisian Human Rights
593:
165:
147:
453:
410:
404:
116:
33:
519:
136:
Blocking of websites, including news and information websites, and police surveillance of e-mails and
37:
422:
368:
189:
153:
Restrictions on the freedom of movement of human rights defenders and political dissidents, police
63:
58:, and the immediate months after, the chairman spokesman and chief fundraiser of the IFEX-TMG was
398:
137:
510:, Tunisia Monitoring Group, International Freedom of Expression Exchange, 15 April 2011
507:
119:
and academics, as well as government officials and government-sponsored organisations.
188:
to legal accreditation of independent civil society associations; and threats against
150:, including the right of organizations to be legally established and to hold meetings.
614:
524:, Tunisia Monitoring Group, International Freedom of Expression Exchange, 6 June 2010
362:
161:
154:
130:
55:
326:
508:"IFEX-TMG mission to Tunisia observes freedom of expression post 14 January"
568:
133:
of individuals related to expression of their opinions or media activities.
100:
freely. The report culminates with 18 specific recommendations for change.
24:) is a coalition of 21 free-expression organisations that belong to the
175:
44:
535:"Report of the Tunisia Monitoring Group on the eve of WSIS Tunis 2005"
602:
538:
227:
381:
International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions
70:
who remained in post until IFEX wound up the group in late 2012.
171:
Press censorship and lack of diversity of content in newspapers.
477:
288:
Deliver receipts for applications submitted for radio licenses.
157:, harassment, intimidation and interception of communications.
491:"Tunisian partners share history in the making with IFEX-TMG"
126:, documented extensive censorship in the country, including:
237:
The IFEX-TMG strongly urges the Tunisian government to:
480:, International Freedom of Expression Exchange web site
143:
Blocking of the distribution of books and publications.
220:
International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights
66:. He was succeeded in 2012 by Virginie Jouan of the
43:
The IFEX-TMG monitors free expression violations in
435:
World Association of Newspapers and News Publishers
429:World Association of Community Radio Broadcasters
8:
598:International Freedom of Expression Exchange
26:International Freedom of Expression Exchange
321:Arabic Network for Human Rights Information
214:Recommendations for the Tunisian government
607:Follow IFEX-TMG on Twitter @TunisiaMonitor
124:Tunisia: Freedom of Expression Under Siege
54:In the years running up to and during the
83:Previous fact-finding missions to Tunisia
621:International human rights organizations
351:Cartoonists Rights Network International
345:Canadian Journalists for Free Expression
339:Cairo Institute for Human Rights Studies
470:
375:International Federation of Journalists
224:World Summit on the Information Society
178:by the security services with impunity.
49:World Summit on the Information Society
32:that promotes and defends the right to
417:The Media Institute of Southern Africa
357:Egyptian Organization for Human Rights
74:April 2011 IFEX-TMG mission to Tunisia
329:, Global Campaign for Free Expression
7:
393:International Publishers Association
626:Freedom of expression organizations
104:the confiscation of publications.
14:
594:Tunisia Monitoring Group web site
333:Bahrain Centre for Human Rights
68:World Association of Newspapers
459:Internet censorship in Tunisia
30:non-governmental organisations
1:
441:World Press Freedom Committee
387:International Press Institute
28:(IFEX), a global network of
478:"Tuniusia Monitoring Group"
62:, then Associate Editor of
647:
18:Tunisia Monitoring Group
201:mission in April 2006.
166:Zine El Abidine Ben Ali
537:. 2005. Archived from
148:freedom of association
122:The resulting report,
117:human rights defenders
454:Censorship in Tunisia
405:Journaliste en danger
222:, as the host of the
160:Lack of pluralism in
34:freedom of expression
603:IFEX-TMG on Facebook
497:on 22 December 2014.
146:Restrictions on the
38:freedom of the press
631:Politics of Tunisia
571:on 30 November 2018
541:on 28 December 2007
369:Index on Censorship
300:familial situation.
190:freedom of assembly
64:Index on Censorship
411:Maharat Foundation
395:(IPA), Switzerland
230:in November 2005.
399:International PEN
638:
581:
580:
578:
576:
567:. Archived from
561:"About IFEX-TMG"
557:
551:
550:
548:
546:
531:
525:
517:
511:
505:
499:
498:
493:. Archived from
487:
481:
475:
60:Rohan Jayasekera
646:
645:
641:
640:
639:
637:
636:
635:
611:
610:
590:
585:
584:
574:
572:
559:
558:
554:
544:
542:
533:
532:
528:
518:
514:
506:
502:
489:
488:
484:
476:
472:
467:
450:
419:(MISA), Namibia
323:, (ANHRI) Egypt
315:
216:
207:
198:
185:
113:
90:
85:
76:
12:
11:
5:
644:
642:
634:
633:
628:
623:
613:
612:
609:
608:
605:
600:
589:
588:External links
586:
583:
582:
552:
526:
512:
500:
482:
469:
468:
466:
463:
462:
461:
456:
449:
446:
445:
444:
438:
432:
426:
420:
414:
408:
402:
396:
390:
389:(IPI), Austria
384:
378:
377:(IFJ), Belgium
372:
366:
360:
354:
348:
342:
336:
330:
324:
314:
311:
310:
309:
302:
301:
297:
293:
289:
286:
282:
279:
275:
272:
269:
265:
261:
257:
253:
249:
246:
243:
215:
212:
206:
203:
197:
194:
184:
183:September 2005
181:
180:
179:
172:
169:
158:
151:
144:
141:
138:Internet cafés
134:
112:
109:
89:
88:April/May 2010
86:
84:
81:
75:
72:
13:
10:
9:
6:
4:
3:
2:
643:
632:
629:
627:
624:
622:
619:
618:
616:
606:
604:
601:
599:
595:
592:
591:
587:
570:
566:
562:
556:
553:
540:
536:
530:
527:
523:
522:
516:
513:
509:
504:
501:
496:
492:
486:
483:
479:
474:
471:
464:
460:
457:
455:
452:
451:
447:
442:
439:
437:(WAN), France
436:
433:
430:
427:
424:
423:Norwegian PEN
421:
418:
415:
412:
409:
406:
403:
400:
397:
394:
391:
388:
385:
382:
379:
376:
373:
370:
367:
364:
363:Freedom House
361:
359:(EOHR), Egypt
358:
355:
352:
349:
346:
343:
340:
337:
334:
331:
328:
325:
322:
319:
318:
317:
312:
307:
306:
305:
298:
294:
290:
287:
285:associations.
283:
280:
276:
273:
270:
266:
262:
258:
254:
250:
247:
244:
240:
239:
238:
235:
231:
229:
225:
221:
213:
211:
204:
202:
195:
193:
191:
182:
177:
173:
170:
167:
163:
159:
156:
152:
149:
145:
142:
139:
135:
132:
129:
128:
127:
125:
120:
118:
110:
108:
105:
101:
97:
93:
87:
82:
80:
73:
71:
69:
65:
61:
57:
52:
50:
46:
41:
39:
35:
31:
27:
23:
19:
573:. Retrieved
569:the original
564:
555:
543:. Retrieved
539:the original
529:
520:
515:
503:
495:the original
485:
473:
371:, UK (chair)
316:
303:
236:
232:
217:
208:
199:
186:
155:surveillance
131:Imprisonment
123:
121:
114:
111:January 2005
106:
102:
98:
94:
91:
77:
53:
42:
21:
17:
15:
545:18 December
296:themselves.
256:defamation.
56:Arab Spring
615:Categories
465:References
443:(WPFC), US
407:(JED), DRC
353:(CRNI), US
327:ARTICLE 19
278:activists.
268:unimpeded.
260:terrorism.
205:April 2007
196:April 2006
413:, Lebanon
335:, Bahrain
252:Internet.
162:broadcast
448:See also
425:, Norway
22:IFEX-TMG
575:28 June
431:(AMARC)
341:, Egypt
313:Members
292:abroad.
176:torture
174:Use of
45:Tunisia
383:(IFLA)
347:(CJFE)
242:2010.
228:Tunis
577:2023
565:IFEX
547:2007
401:, UK
365:, US
36:and
16:The
596:at
226:in
617::
563:.
192:.
40:.
579:.
549:.
168:.
140:.
20:(
Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. Additional terms may apply.