The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) has demanded the
immediate release of a Tunisian journalist arrested in Tunis today,
Friday 13 September.
According to reports, Zied El Hani, Editor in chief of Assahafa newspaper (La Presse), was arrested after being asked to appear in front of an investigation judge at the Court of first instance in Tunis.
When
he arrived at the court he was charged with defamation and allegedly
making illegal accusations against a civil servant during an interview
on Nessma TV regarding the arrest of a photojournalist by a Tunisian
judge. The case was brought against El Hani by the judge.
"We
call for the immediate release of our colleague Zied El Hani, a highly
respected journalist who has been arrested and detained under false and
illegal pretenses and has done nothing to warrant such an action by the
authorities in Tunisia," said IFJ President Jim Boumelha.
"His
detention is a restriction of the freedom of journalism and media in
Tunisia and undermines the provisions of the rights of journalists law,
which provides a safe environment for press and media work in the
country."
IFJ General Secretary Beth Costa said: "The way our
colleague Zied El Hani has been treated simply for doing his job as a
journalist is utterly scandalous. We call for the authorities in Tunisia
to give us clear answers as to why he was arrested and release him with
immediate effect."
For more information, please contact IFJ on + 32 2 235 22 17
The IFJ represents more than 600.000 journalists in 134 countries
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