08 October 2010

IFJ Calls for Immediate Release of Ailing Tunisian Journalist

The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) today expressed its grave concern over the well-being of Tunisian journalist Fahem Boukaddous and urged his immediate release. Boukaddous, whose health has sharply deteriorated in prison, is serving a four year jail term following his conviction in March for "forming a criminal association liable to attack persons".

"We are very concerned about Boukaddous who needs urgent medical treatment unavailable to him in prison," said Aidan White, IFJ General Secretary. "Boukaddous has already been denied his freedom as punishment for his independent journalism. Without immediate action his long term health is under threat."

According to family sources, Boukaddous, correspondent for the satellite channel ‘Tunisian Dialogue' has difficulties breathing and speaking and his asthma attacks have increased. The family has also complained of police harassment who monitor their movements and keep an intimidating watch near the family home and commercial premises.

The journalist was sentenced to four years in January and his conviction was upheld by a Court of Appeal in July. He was prosecuted following his reporting of public demonstrations against unemployment and corruption in the mining town of Gafsa in 2008.

In a show of solidarity, leaders of the syndicat national des journalistes tunisiens (SNJT), an IFJ affiliate, organised a demonstration outside the Gafsa prison where Boukaddous is detained on 18 September but the police stopped the gathering and turned away demonstrators.

The IFJ is also calling on the European Parliament to help secure the release of Boukaddous. The Parliament held a hearing on the situation of human rights in Tunisia during its January session in Strasbourg.

"We look to European Union institutions to leverage their pressure to save the journalist's life," added White. "But they need to act fast as his life is in danger."

According to the IFJ, the authorities continue to use the courts as a means of repression against journalists as the case of journalist Mouldi Zouabi demonstrated this week. The journalist of Radio Kalima has been remanded in custody since July in a case where he is the victim of an assault by a man who attacked him in April. Police decided not to charge the aggressor, claiming insufficient evidence. Instead, they are accusing Zouabi of violent behavior and actual bodily harm. The case was sent to a higher court on 6 October, exposing the journalist to up to two years in jail. His lawyers have resigned to protest multiple breaches of due process.

For more information, please contact IFJ on + 32 2 235 22 07 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting + 32 2 235 22 07 end_of_the_skype_highlighting

The IFJ represents more than 600.000 journalists in 125 countries

NB/ You are reading the 77th Edition of the "Tunisian Journalist" Blog.

The last Edition was illegally censored in Tunisia.

IFJ Condemns Police Obstruction of Demonstration for Emprisoned Tunisian Journalist

29 July 2010

IFJ Condemns Harassment of Journalists' Leader in Tunisia

The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) today accused the authorities in Tunisia of engaging in a "relentless campaign" of intimidation and harassment of a journalists' leader.

The IFJ says Zied-el-Heni, a member of the leadership of the Syndicat national des journalistes tunisiens (SNJT) and of the steering committee of the African Federation of Journalistes (FAJ), the IFJ regional group, is the victim of a campaign to undermine independent journalism.

"There is no let up in the authorities' targeting of independent journalists in Tunisia," said Aidan White, IFJ General Secretary. "Zied has been reporting to the police, only to be sent home hours later and without being spoken to. The campaign against him is relentless and unacceptable."

According to SNJT, an IFJ affiliate, Zied was summoned by police twice this week and was made to wait for seven hours on 27 July before being sent home without anyone talking to him. The journalist has been a victim of attacks on independent media before. He was assaulted in October 2009 and his blog has been repeatedly blocked and censored.

His latest difficulties reportedly arise from his criticism of the Appeal Court ruling which upheld the conviction of fellow journalist Fahem Boukaddous who was sentenced on 7 July to four year prison sentence for "forming a criminal association liable to attack persons".

The trial of Boukaddous was marred by concerns over the lack of due process, including a refusal to hear from the defence. The journalist was in hospital during the trial and his health has worsened since.

The IFJ is backing SNJT criticism of police action and called on the Government to ensure Zied's rights. The Federation of African Journalists (FAJ) recently submitted a petition, supported by the SNJT and IFJ, to the African Union Summit calling on the continent's leaders to make journalism safer in Africa and to respect journalist's rights.

"It is high time for Tunisian authorities to heed that call and the demands of Tunisian journalists," added White. "Tunisian people have a right to independent information and our colleagues are determined to enforce it. All forms of harassment should end and detained journalists set free."

For more information contact the IFJ at +32 235 2207

The IFJ represents over 600,000 journalists in 125 countries worldwide

Page link

http://www.ifj.org/en/articles/ifj-condemns-harassment-of-journalists-leader-in-tunisia

© International Federation of Journalists . Belgium

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في عريضة زياد الهاني الموجهة إلى رئيس الدولة يوم 3 ماي: الدفاع عن حقوقي كمواطن جزء من دفاعي عن بلادي

الحمد للّه وحده

قرطاج في 3 ماي 2010

سيادة الرئيس زين العابدين بن علي المحترم

دام حفظه

العارض : زياد الهاني، صحفي

12 شارع الهادي شاكر - قرطاج 2016

سيّـدي الرئيس

قدمت صباح هذا اليوم إلى قصركم بقرطاج الذي يرمز إلى سيادة الشعب التونسي الحرّ المستقل بعد أن بلغت المضايقات التي أتعرض لها مدى لا يطاق، إذ شملتني وأهلي وخاصة بناتي الصغيرات.

سيّـدي الرئيس

تقدّمت يوم 18 أفريل الفارط بإعلام إلى وزارة الداخلية حسب الصيغ القانونية لممارسة حقي الدستوري في التظاهر السلمي اليوم أمام مقر وزارة الاتصال للمطالبة بتعزيز حريّـة الإعلام. ومنذ ذلك التاريخ أصبحت مستهدفا بالملاحقات البوليسية في عملي. وبلغ الأمر حد تهديدي بالقتل وهو ما دفعني للتظلم لدى السيد وكيل الجمهورية الذي لم ألق منه لحدّ الآن أي رد. وفي حدود الساعة الحادية عشر والنصف من مساء أمس قامت أعداد غفيرة من قوات الأمن بالزي المدني بمحاصرة مسكني والتحرك المكثف في النهج الضيق الذي أسكن فيه ممّـا أدخل الرعب على زوجتي وبناتي الثلاث. وصباح هذا اليوم عندما خرجت لاصطحابهن إلى مدارسهن أثارت التحركات الأمنية في الخارج رعبهن وخاصة الصغيرتان. وأنتم لكم أطفال ولا أظنكم تقبلون بترهيبهم تحت أيّ ظرف من الظروف. ثم قامت سيارة 405 رقم تسلسلها 1320 تونس 77 ودراجة نارية يركبها شخصان بملاحقتي طول الطريق، مما اضطرني للالتجاء إليكم لرفع الأمر إليكم. ورغم دخولي في حمى قصركم إلاّ أنهم ظلّـوا يترصدوني أمامه دون مراعاة لأيّـة حرمة.

سيّـدي الرئيس

هذه الدولة دولتي، ويفترض فيكم باعتباركم رأسها حماية حقوقي كمواطن. لذلك ألجأ إليكم راجيا تفضلكم بالتدخل لوقف الملاحقات والمضايقات التي تستهدفني وأسرتي. فإذا كنت غير قادر على ممارسة حقي الدستوري، الذي ضحّـت من أجله أجيال من التونسيين، في التعبير بحرية والتظاهر السلمي وتكوين الجمعيات في بلدي، فأين سأمارس هذا الحق؟

أنا يا سيادة الرئيس من طلع هذه الأرض سأموت فيها ولن أغادرها ما حييت. لذلك أتمسك بأن أحيا في بلادي محفوظ الكرامة والحقوق. وألتمس دعمكم في منع تجريدي من هذه الحقوق.

أنا يا سيادة الرئيس ضابط احتياط في جيشنا الوطني (6092/ض) وأعتبر أن الدفاع عن حقوقي كمواطن جزء من دفاعي عن بلادي.

وتفضلوا سيّـدي الرئيس ختاما بقبول فائق التحيّـة والتّـقدير.

المواطن الصّـحفي زياد الهاني