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The Internet In the Arab World
A New Space of Repression?
No Rules, No Limits
United Arab Emirates:
Freedom of expression is missing despite a decision banning imprisonment for press crimes
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Repression in Tunisia Forces Three Newspapers to Withhold from Publishing in Protest
ANHRI Condemns the Repressive Measures of the Government against Freedom of Expression
Cairo 11/11/2009
The Arabic Network for Human Rights Information, ANHRI, condemned rising incidence of freedom of expression violations. The violations, which have been going on, show no sign of ending soon. The last of these abuses was an order issued by the Tunisian Ministry of Interior. The Minister ordered the printing presses, which are responsible for printing partisan opposition newspapers, to hand over all issues of these newspapers to the Tunisian Company for Distribution.
Accordingly, the boards of Al Mawqef, Al Tariq Al Jadid and Moatenun newspapers decided to withhold from publishing their newspaper for a week in an aligned stand calling the government to retreat from its new illegal measures. The editors of the three newspapers issued joint statement in which they stated that "the government suppresses the opposition newspapers to force them to close down."
Press, journalists and bloggers in Tunisia are facing unprecedented limiting measures. This last measure, deprives the opposition parties of receiving issues of their own newspapers (usually, issuer parties are entitled to a percent to be distributed as per their distribution policy). This is a barefaced interference of authorities in the business relationships between print houses and newspapers, one that cannot be interpreted except as an attempt to suppress press freedom, to prevent fair distribution of newspapers and to interrupt the opposition press, thereby to financially choke it.
Gamal Eid, ANHRI’s executive director said “this new procedure is a new move in the government's campaign against all dissenting or opposing voices. The government is working to choke the voice of opposition parties."
The Arabic Network for Human Rights Information requested the Tunisian government to stop all repressive practices against freedom of opinion and expression.
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