The National Union of Tunisian Journalists today, Tuesday, called on the Ministry of the Interior to assume all its responsibility in protecting reporters in the exercise of their profession.
In a statement today, it called on him to force its agents to respect the laws and regulations in force, and to end all restrictive and arbitrary practices which have taken on a “systematic and institutional” character. » in recent months.
The delegate stated the Bab Souika zone commissioner intentionally obstructed the work of journalists while they were filming reports at the Halfaouine market, adjacent to the delegation’s headquarters, and called on security to stop them from working. , adding that security agents escorted the press team to the Bab Souika security district and then to the Halfaouine police station, despite the journalist presenting her professional card for 2024.
The SNJT voiced its dissatisfaction with the practices of local officials aimed at restricting the freedom of journalistic work and their stubbornness in imposing illegal obstacles to the work of journalists and dragging them to security posts, believing that this reflects the mentality of pursuing the support of security forces to impose its control on the work of journalists, in breach of the legislation governing the freedom of journalistic work.
It emphasised the danger that some local officials would resort to imposing their authority on the work of the media, underlining that it will spare no effort to defame these practices aimed at domesticating and directing the work of journalists.
The union also believes that the silence of the executive branch in the face of these practices encourages local officials to uphold restrictions, especially in light of the growing controversy over the new designations of governors and delegates.
He warned of the danger of security forces engaging in illegal practices seen as a restriction on the work of journalists, such as responding to orders from those who have no authority over security authorities to compel them to carry out research work that falls into the category of compromising the confidentiality of sources, in accordance with what is stipulated in Decree 115 of 2011 regulating freedom of the press, printing and publishing.
The SNJT said the law requires official bodies to facilitate the work of journalists with national professional cards and that any research work with them is considered a violation of their rights.
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