Tunisia-SNJT: “Security forces attacked journalists at Avenue Habib Bourguiba”

The National Syndicate of Tunisian Journalists “SNJT “denounced the violent attacks against reporters in Habib Bourguiba Avenue in Tunis this evening, Wednesday, September 1, 2021, while covering a demonstration.

“Tonight, Wednesday, September 1, 2021, uniformed security forces assaulted journalists while covering a demonstration by the Manech Msalmin / met Movement to demand revelation of the truth about the political assassinations,” reads a press release.

Journalists were pushed during the dispersal of the demonstrators by the security forces, despite showing their professional cards and wearing their distinctive vests, according to the same source.

At the start of the protest, journalist of the “Meshkal” and “Nawat” sites, Ghaya Ben Mbarek was assaulted and barred from covering the protests. She presented her business card to a uniformed security guard who threw her to the ground, causing her back injury, the statement said.

The attacks likewise targeted:

• photojournalists, Noureddine Ahmed, Ahmed Zarrouki
• Aymen Touihri, photojournalist for “Kashf Media” Yosra Chikhaoui
• journalist for the “Hakaekonline” website Intissar Gassara
• freelance journalist Saber Ayari
• journalist for “Tounes Tetharra” Ali Bouchoucha
• independent journalist Latifa Anwer
• journalist at “Amal” radio

The SNJT described the violence as “a dangerous deterioration in the relationships of the security forces with the journalists on the ground during their coverage of the protest movements, and a flagrant threat to the freedom of the press”.

Calling on the Interior Ministry to review the attacks on journalists and publicly condemn its violence. The SNJT additionally called on the President of the Republic to take all the required measures to guarantee the protection of journalists and the freedom of journalistic work.