NAFCC reiterates its concern after a fourth incident in 2018
The NAFCC deplores a new incident and expresses its concern over the pressure on journalists.
On Monday 12, March 2018, two plain clothes policemen attended at the house of Mr. Hamdi Tlili – a Tunisian citizen who works as a reporter for France 24. At that time Mr. Tlili was absent, and so the policemen waited in the street outside his house until his return. Upon his arrival they questioned Mr. Tlili about his work. In particular they referred to two reports from 2012 and 2017 which Mr. Tlili had worked on and asked him to identify a person who had appeared in these reports but whose face had been blurred out. Mr. Tlili was further questioned about his family (names, jobs…). When he asked why he was being interrogated the policemen told him that this was normal procedure as he worked for a foreign media channel.
The NAFCC notes that according to the fundamental principles of press freedom, a journalist is not obliged to reveal his sources. The attendance of police or security forces at the home of a journalist and his family is regarded as a form of intimidation.
Hamdi Tlili is a journalist of several years experience and is fully accredited to work as a journalist, carrying both the national press card and monthly filming permit.
This is the fourth incident since January of this year to be reported by a member of a foreign media based in Tunis. Earlier this year the NAFCC had audience with the offices of the Prime Minister and the President of the Tunisian Republic. The association noted the government’s commitment to respect the freedom of the press in Tunisia and the working conditions of foreign correspondents. However now the NAFCC is waiting for concrete action by the State of Tunisia. The procedures in place must be respected by the security forces. Every journalist must be able to work freely, especially if he or she holds a press card accredited by the Presidence of the Government of Tunisian Republic.
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