Tunisian journalists call for media law to be applied

The National Syndicate of Tunisian Journalists (SNJT) called on Friday for the application of the law that protects and organises media work and guarantees equality among all media corporations, Anadolu has reported. The move came after the announcement of the Independent High Authority for Audio-visual Communication (HAICA) that it would confiscate equipment of media corporations which broadcast illegally.

In a statement, SNJT stressed the “right of the media corporations to get work licences in order to keep up with the law, as well as to enjoy litigation rights.” The union blamed the owners of the media corporations, who have not yet completed the registration of their companies. It said that this might lead to their closure. The SNJT added that it might be obliged to ask the owners of the corporations, which did not respect the law, to review their licences.

On Thursday, HAICA issued a list of television and radio stations which were granted broadcast licences last September. At the same time, it gave a three-day ultimatum for unlicensed corporations to stop their work. The deadline was then extended until 3 October.

The Tunisian law covering media work provides for a maximum fine of $25,000 for unlicensed media corporations along with the confiscation of their broadcast equipment.