Tunisian journalists began their protest movements today, Monday 23rd November 2020, to denounce the deterioration of the situation of professionals in the sector and to call on the government to keep its promises, in particular, to respect the decision of the administrative court relating to the publication in the Official Journal of the Tunisian Republic (Jort) of framework agreements, signed for the benefit of the press.
Mobilized to defend their rights and freedom of expression and of the press, the main if not the only achievement of the Tunisian revolution, journalists began, at first, to wear the red armband until next Thursday, which will be marked by sit-ins in different regions.
A march is also planned, from 11 a.m. to Place de la Kasbah, and a general strike is expected on Thursday, December 10, 2020, coinciding with the celebration of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, and this in order to “protect against the policy of the government, which continues to ignore their legitimate claims of journalists.”
Recall that the International Federation of Journalists (IFJ), which supports the actions of the SNJT, sent a letter last week to the head of government Hichem Mechichi, in which it expresses its “deep concern” at the failure to comply with the said judgment.
“This is a surprising and disappointing step for journalists and even a very negative image, conveyed by the government in place, on the democratic transition in Tunisia”, had deplored the IFJ, while warning against any attempt to undermine the gains linked to freedom of expression and democratic transition.
