Tunisian journalists declare media emergency amid arrests and protests

The National Syndicate of Tunisian Journalists has declared a state of ‘media emergency’ amid rising tensions regarding press freedom and the professional security of journalists in Tunisia. The syndicate has announced a one-day general strike, though the date remains undecided, ahead of its seventh congress scheduled for October 10-11.

Protests have intensified following the detention of several journalists, including Mohamed El Yousfi, whose arrest was described by academics as a breaking point for the sector. The syndicate and media professionals argue that the industry faces an existential crisis driven by repressive laws, the suspension of regulatory bodies, and deteriorating socio-economic conditions for media workers.

Adding to the tension, the syndicate has condemned the alleged targeting of the ‘Nawa News’ team. According to the syndicate, journalists from the outlet were lured to a location by an individual posing as a delivery worker, only to be intercepted by plainclothes security officers and taken to the Central Unit in Laouina. The syndicate has called for an urgent judicial investigation into the incident and an administrative inquiry by the Ministry of Interior regarding alleged misconduct and verbal abuse during the interrogation.