252 violations against journalists in Tunis in 2013

An observatory centre said on Friday that there were 252 violations against journalists in Tunis in the period between October 2013 and September 2014.

The Tunis Centre of Press Freedom (CTLP) said in a document announced at a press conference held in Tunis on Friday that the violations included verbal and physical aggression and all of them took place while the journalists were working.

Named as ‘The Legal Guide for the Protection of Journalists,’ the document said that many of the violations were “massive” and judicial action was required to achieve justice against the perpetrators.

According to the observatory, “it is rare that the Public Prosecution open investigations for such violations.” It also added: “In case where some of the journalists filed complaints, their demands were met with no response.”

In a previous report, the observatory registered 306 violations, where 325 journalists were affected. That report covered the period between October 2012 and September 2013.

Despite the relative change in the political climate and the recession of political polarisation in the country, the observatory said that the journalists have never felt any positive change took place regarding their profession.

Based on the details issued by the observatory, two cases out of 20 filed in the Tunisian courts between 2012 and 2014, have been executed.