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The Day · Wednesday 17 December 2025

Filed 00:05 · Palestine time (UTC+2) · World

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Tunisian Journalists’ Union Sounds Alarm Over Escalating Clampdown on Media Freedom

The Tunisian journalists’ union has issued a warning highlighting what it describes as an intensifying crackdown on media freedom. The warning raises serious concerns about the current state of journalistic independence and press operations in Tunisia.

Journalists are raising placards during a rally staged by the National Union of Tunisian Journalists (SNJT) in front of its headquarters in Tunis, Tunisia, on March 6, 2024, in solidarity with Tunisian journalist Khalifa Guesmi. The journalists participating in the rally are protesting the imprisonment of their colleague and are calling for his release. Khalifa Guesmi was imprisoned after being sentenced on appeal to five years in prison under anti-terrorism legislation. The rally is coinciding with the examination by the Court of Cassation of the journalist’s case. (Photo by Chedly Ben Ibrahim/NurPhoto via Getty Images)

The Tunisian journalists’ union has issued a warning concerning what it sees as a growing crackdown on media freedom. The union’s message underscores rising tensions within the country’s media landscape, marked by increasing limitations placed on journalists and media institutions. The union has voiced alarm over these developments, describing them as part of a broader pattern which threatens the independence and operational capacity of the press in Tunisia.

This warning from the Tunisian journalists’ union comes amid what it identifies as systematic pressure on media workers and a narrowing space for truth-telling and public accountability. The union’s position signals deepening concern within journalistic circles about their ability to function without interference or reprisal. Media practitioners, according to the union, face escalating risks that undermine their role in reporting freely and accurately.

In addition, the union asserts that media freedom in Tunisia is facing increasing restrictions that hinder the flow of information and communication. The warning calls attention to mounting limitations and rising anxiety among journalists, editors, and media outlets in the country. From its side, the union warns that such constraints may represent a broader trend aimed at silencing critical voices within society.

Meanwhile, the statement issued by the Tunisian journalists’ union appears to be a call for vigilance and resistance against any measures that encroach upon freedom of expression. The warning reflects what the union views as sustained interference in media affairs that contravenes fundamental rights and jeopardizes the integrity of journalistic operations.

The union’s stand highlights the vital link between press freedom and democratic expression. It insists on the necessity of protecting journalists from harassment and obstruction. The warning also points to what the union interprets as discouraging signals of a deepening campaign against media autonomy.

Amid these developments, the union’s warning resonates as a measure to defend the profession, insisting on the importance of allowing journalists to carry out their duties without fear or restriction. The warning sheds light on an environment where the union believes critical reporting is increasingly viewed as a threat rather than a public right.

The Tunisian journalists’ union continues to advocate for unimpeded media practices and stresses the importance of safeguarding journalistic independence. The union’s position serves as a reaffirmation of its commitment to resist any attempt aimed at curbing the right to report and inform the public. According to the union’s assessment, recent actions reflect a worrying trend that could jeopardize Tunisia’s media fabric if not reversed.

In conclusion, the union reiterates its warning and calls for urgent attention to what it perceives as a dangerous road toward the erosion of media freedoms. It urges solidarity among media workers and a collective pushback against what it defines as a crackdown threatening the foundations of free and independent journalism in Tunisia.

17 Dec, 00:05

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