“The internet is freedom”: Index speaks to Tunisian Internet Agency chief

February 3rd, 2012

The Tunisian Internet Agency was the Ben Ali regime’s instrument for censoring the web. Now, as it attempts to break ties with the past, Afef Abrougui talks to its CEO about the online challenges facing Tunisia

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Tunisia: Two female journalists covering protest assaulted by police

January 6th, 2012

Two female journalists have been assaulted by police whilst covering protests in Tunisia. Sana Farhat of French-language daily Le Temps and Maha Ouelhezi from news website Web Manager Center were assaulted by plain clothed officers  as they covered a demonstration by university teachers outside the ministry of higher education in Tunis yesterday. Farhat had her press card and camera seized, and was dragged along the ground by her hair after she demanded her equipment be returned. The video Farhat was making was wiped by officers. Ouelhezi’s camera was also seized and smashed by an officer.

France: Magazine petrol-bombed after printing cartoon of prophet Mohammed

November 2nd, 2011

The Paris-based office of Charlie Hebdo, a satirical weekly magazine, was petrol-bombed early this morning [2 November] in advance of the publication of an issue “guest-edited” by prophet Mohammed, marking the victory of the Islamist Ennahda Party in Tunisia’s elections. The special issue, which also featured a cartoon of prophet Mohammed saying “100 lashes if you don’t die of laughter!” on the front page, was scheduled to hit news stands today. The magazine’s website was also reported to have been hacked, with a message in English and Turkish condemning the publication. In 2007, the weekly reprinted the widely-protested cartoons of prophet Muhammad, which were published by the Danish newspaper Jyllands Posten.  

Rightscon: “If we don’t get this right, people will be put in jail”

October 26th, 2011

Rachel Greenspan reports from the Silicon Valley Human Rights Conference, where industry and activists met to discuss free expression online
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Tunisian elections: media reform key to democracy

October 24th, 2011

Tunisians flocked to voting stations yesterday in the country’s first-ever free elections, but only the cultivation of an independent media will safeguard democracy and free expression, writes Rohan Jayasekera 

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Tunisia: Crowds gather for anti-censorship march

October 17th, 2011

Thousands of demonstrators took part in an anti-censorship march in the Tunisian capital on Sunday. As the debate between Islamic conservatives and secularists continues in the country, the liberal demonstrators gathered for the march, dubbed ”Aataqni” or “set me free” in Tunisian Arabic. The movement follows opposing protests last week, after the decision by Nessma TV to air the film Persepolis. The demonstrators at the Aataqni protest were alarmed by the reaction of the Islamists  to the animated film, claiming if that kind of censorship was accepted, it could lead to censorship of other programs.

Tunisia: Broadcast of ‘Persepolis’ prompts protest

October 11th, 2011

Hundreds of protesters have attacked a private television company in Tunisia in protest over the broadcast of the award winning film “Persepolis.” The protesters, who believe that the animated film denigrates Islam, attacked the TV station Nessma in Tunisia’s capital on Sunday. Police used tear gas to disperse the crowd and made 40 arrests. The film, which is about the 1979 Iranian revolution, was aired on Friday. Following the broadcast, according to Nebil Karoui, the head of Nessma, messages appeared on Facebook calling for the station to be burned down and its journalists killed.  

Tunisia: Free expression groups celebrate whistleblower release

September 30th, 2011

Police commissioner Samir Feriani has been acquitted of “harming security of state” after criticising continued role of Ben Ali-era security officials. Index on Censorship reports

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