Tunisia: CFWIJ Denounces Brutal Police Violence Against Journalist
Location: Tunisia, Tunis
Date: September 2, 2021
Security forces attacked at least 9 journalists, of which three of them women, while following the anti-government protest in Tunis on World Peace Day, September 1. Meshkal’s Ghaya Bin Mubarak was physically assaulted and the rest were deliberately impeded from the scene despite showing their press credentials to the police. The Coalition For Women In Journalism (CFWIJ) denounces police violence against journalists. We demand Tunisian authorities to ensure journalists safety, attacking them instead.
On September 01, 2021, security forces attacked journalists while following the anti-government protest to demand the disclosure of the truth about the political assassinations. Journalists were pushed during the police dispersal of the protesters, even though they showed their press credentials and wore their distinctive press vests. Meshkal’s reporter Ghaya Bin Mubarak was pushed and fell to the ground. As a result of the attack the journalist injured her back.
The attacks also targeted Yosra Chikhaoui, a journalist for the independent news website Hakaek Online and Latifa Anwar from Amal radio. The journalists were impeded and limited from the scene.
Independent journalist Elizia Volkman took to her Twitter account to draw attention to the current challenges that her colleagues face on the ground. She said, “Yesterday saw the first public protest and many of my Tunisian journalist colleagues were assaulted. Including Meshkal’s reporter Ghaya Bin Mubarak. Mubarak was kicked to the ground and saved from further injury by colleagues. RT to stand in solidarity.” She included that this protest was the first one since July 25th and Kais Saied’s assumption of full executive power.
#Tunisia RT Yesterday saw the first public protest & many of my Tunisian journo colleagues were assaulted. Including Meshkal’s reporter @Ghaya_BM Mbarak who was kicked to the ground & saved from further injury by colleagues. RT to stand in solidarity @CFWIJ @iwmf @frontlineclub https://t.co/DaqJ227BP3
— Elizia Volkmann (@EliziaVolkmann) September 2, 2021
The National Syndicate of Tunisian journalists (SNJT) said in a statement that the security officials deliberately prevented journalists from doing their job and attacked them while they were covering the protest. The union called the attacks represented "a dangerous decline for the safety of journalists while covering the demonstration and a dangerous indication of a setback in the path of journalists towards freedom."
The Coalition For Women In Journalism expresses solidarity with journalists who have endured police violence while doing their job. We urge Tunisian authorities to respect press freedom and ensure journalists safety, rather than attacking.
PHOTO CREDIT: FETHI BELAID/AFP VIA GETTY IMAGES
The CFWIJ strongly condemns the police brutality against journalists. We demand the immediate return of the press cards seized from the security forces. Policies to intimidate journalists should be abandoned, and journalism should be practiced under the criteria of freedom of the press.
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