Come più volte sostenuto dalle ong internazionali che difendono i diritti dell’uomo, in Tunisia la professione di giornalista rimane “un mestiere ad alto rischio”. L’arresto del reporter Fahem Boukadous, avvenuto il 15 luglio scorso, ne è l’ennesima conferma.
In Tunisia chiunque osi criticare le autorità o difendere i diritti dell’uomo si trova in una situazione di pericolo. I militanti e le ong che difendono i diritti umani, così come gli avvocati and journalists are targeted by the regime. They can not give birth to independent associations without fear of interference ol'accanimento Tunisian bureaucracy. Are often the subject of judicial proceedings in respect of which are locked up in prison based on false accusations assembled ad hoc. Friends, family, even their children are victims of harassment. Some have lost their jobs. Their offices and their homes were searched and ransacked by the security forces. They are followed constantly subjected to heavy surveillance. Their phones are tapped, the Internet links are monitored and blocked e-mails or pirated. The abuse and physical violence are committed by police officers or agents intelligence at the behest of the authorities. Persecution is permanent obstacle to the activists in their efforts on behalf of human rights and prevents him from having a normal private life. With the use of such devices, the authorities want to say to all those living in Tunisia which is better think twice before you criticize or stand in defense of human rights. This introductory note of the report "Tunisia. Des voix indépendantes réduites au silence ", published by Amnesty International July 13, 2010. The document accuses the Tunisian authorities in a clear right to use every means available, legal and not just to silence critical voices that are raised within the country. The concerns raised by NGOs have found yet another confirmation of just 48 hours after the release of the report, when Fahem Boukadous independent journalist, correspondent of the satellite channel Al Hiwar Ettounsi , was arrested near the hospital Farhat Hached of Susse. "We had to collect the results of some tests, when four plainclothes policemen have asked my husband to follow him for a quick check," says his wife Afef Columns Nouvel Obsevateur . Since then neither the lawyers nor his family have never heard from him.
July 6 Fahem Boukadous was sentenced to four years' imprisonment by the Court of Appeals for Gafsa "Understanding participation in criminal and dissemination of news likely to disturb public order." An unfair trial, expeditious and unilateral, concluded in haste and without the presence of the accused without the defense has been granted the right to speak. The journalist was not in court when the court because the hospital for several days in hospital in Susse following the occurrence of severe respiratory failure. Authorities was enough to wait for the resignation of the patient to comply with the ruling. But the verdict issued by the court, according to the lawyer Ridaoui Rida, "is a serious breach of the procedures of the Criminal Code, which provides for the postponement of the trial when the accused can not be present at the hearing because of his health.
"If leaving the hospital I will be incarcerated, will not go into a cell but in a grave," wrote Boukadous in an open letter to international public opinion. For twenty years of patient suffering from asthma and lung sudden crisis, the Tunisian journalist had called just hours after the pronouncement of the court, while he was still hospitalized in Susse. "The promiscuity of the prison, dirt, humidity, oppressive heat of summer and smoke person who would be forced to breathe in these tiny cages overcrowded will only aggravate my situation. "
"An injustice injustice"
address Boukadous The accusations relate to events that occurred in 2008 Redeyef, a mining area located in the region of Gafsa, where in recent years, the unemployment rate has risen as much as the modernization of facilities and soaring exports. The local population, considering the results of fraudulent recruitment competition held by the Company of Phosphates, had rebelled against corruption e alle pratiche clientelari in voga nell’amministrazione tunisina, chiedendo nuovi posti di lavoro e più trasparenza. La zona fu invasa dalle forze di sicurezza e gli scioperi, protrattisi per settimane, soffocati nel sangue: alla fine vennero uccisi tre manifestanti (un quarto morì poche settimane più tardi per le lesioni riportate al midollo spinale). Fahem Boukadous, inviato di Al Hiwar Ettounsi , era uno dei rari giornalisti presenti al momento del sollevamento (assieme a Gabriele Del Grande, autore dello splendido reportage “Tunisia: la dittatura a sud di Lampedusa”, pubblicato in fortresseurope.blogspot.com ). Le sue immagini, che documentano gli scontri e la repressione violenta operata by the army and police have done in a short time around the world, thanks to the spread on Youtube and Dailymotion. In Tunisia, but were never aired. According to the allegations of the system, the correspondent of Al Hiwar in no way a journalist, but a subversive element involved in the revolt and then sentenced for "crimes of common law that have nothing to do with his profession." The court of first instance and then the appeals court have found guilty of "association with criminal gang", for damage to public and private property, as well as the wounding of police officers following the launch of incendiary bombs. But Hassiba Hadj Sahraoui, head of North Africa at Amnesty International, the trial Boukadous was nothing more than "a grotesque farce, injustice injustice." His defenders, in fact, have never been able to summon witnesses, were denied the right to cross-examination and the last hearing were totally excluded from the proceedings. "Fahem Boudakous is a prisoner of opinion, finished in custody for the peaceful exercise of his right to freedom of expression," the manager said in statement released by the NGO network. An opinion shared by Jean-Francois Julliard, Secretary General of Reporters Without Borders He adds: "This verdict is yet another arbitrary decision taken by the regime of Ben Ali at those who disturb his power. Obviously a political decision, which condemned a journalist for having exercised their profession independently. "
against the arrest of the reporter was immediately deployed Taoufik Ben Brik, a poet, novelist and journalist, considered one of the main opponents to the building of Carthage. "Fahem, you are my foster-brother and my battle horse," wrote Ben Brik, released from prison last April 27 after six months' imprisonment. His fault, criticizing the Tunisian president in French newspapers on the occasion of election campaign (October 2009), which has crowned Zine El Abdin Ben Ali for the fifth consecutive time. A few weeks after his arrest was the turn of Zouhair Makhlouf, another journalist, sentenced to three months in prison and payment of 3 000 euro fine for having made a report on working conditions in the industrial area of \u200b\u200bNabeul (50 km south of Tunis).
The persecution of dissidents, journalists and activists for human rights is a consolidated reality in Tunisia. Amnesty International believes that these attacks are the direct result of laws and the political strategy of the authorities, who want to silence le rare voci che ancora continuano ad esprimersi in maniera libera e indipendente.
Dal rapporto di Amnesty International “Tunisie. Des voix indépendantes réduites au silence”. (Traduzione del paragrafo dedicato alla libertà di espressione)
Le autorità tunisine esercitano uno stretto controllo sui media. La maggior parte degli organi di stampa o dei canali radio appartengono allo Stato o a personalità vicine al governo. I giornali dei partiti politici di opposizione, invece, sono privati del denaro pubblico, una pratica in contrasto con la legge sul finanziamento pubblico dei partiti politici. I caporedattori e i giornalisti subiscono constant intimidation. The independent newspapers that publish articles critical of the authorities or who expose corruption are seized and destroyed. Foreign correspondents who are trying to document the repression of political opposition and human rights activists are seen to prohibit entry into the country. The Criminal Code and the Code of the release contains vaguely worded provisions that a punishable criminal offense "disseminating false news likely to disturb public order" (Article 49 of the Code of print) and "incitement to rebellion "produced through public speeches, banners, posters and publications (Article 121 of the Penal Code). The libel is defined in vague and broadly interpreted in art. And Article 245 of the Penal Code. 50 of the Code of the press. While the art. 121 (b) of the Criminal Code prohibits the distribution, sale and exposure of leaflets "which could jeopardize public order or good morals."
Those journalists who criticize the government are often targeted convicted on trumped-up charges and improbable, or even objects of persistent harassment and intimidation. They may lose their jobs overnight, or be relegated to perform minor tasks. For them it is virtually impossible to work in the national media. If they are hired by foreign media, rarely seen renewed press accreditation or you see systematically denied permission to film and transmit images.
January 27, 2009 The number of plainclothes policemen have surrounded the premises of Radio Kalima, which began broadcasting via satellite only 24 hours earlier. After a three-day block, the local radio have been closed. The officers placed the seals and seized all the materials. Sihem Ben Sedrine, human rights activist and editor in chief of Radio Kalima, is the subject of an investigation for using a radio frequency without authorization. During the blockade of the issue have been reported numerous cases of mistreatment and intimidation. Naziha Rejiba, known under the name Oum Ziad, is a journalist, co-founder of Radio Kalima and human rights activist. For years the victim of intimidation and abuse. Some of his articles have been censored and were published in newspapers on which they were seized. For the Tunisian authorities it was false news.
In November 2009, Taoufik Ben Brik, a journalist known for his critical stances against the government, was sentenced to six months in prison based on evidence pre-fabricated and false evidence. It 'been charged with assault, destruction of property of others, offensive to good morals and defamation. Ben Brik has always denied all charges, explaining such a fury that was actually due to his criticism of the regime. It 'was released after serving the full sentence.
Tunisia's international partners have never complained, so far, the strategy of the scheme aimed at silencing the slightest dissent. The European Union and the United States continues to trust in official discourse promoted from Tunis, who described his government as an avid promoter of human rights. The reports of Amnesty International, which counts the gross violations of human rights produced in the country are being systematically ignored by the Member wishing to strengthen their trade ties and cooperation Security with Tunisia. If these governments do not start to exert real pressure on the Tunisian authorities to reclaim their budget on human rights, persecution of activists, opponents and independent journalists will continue unabated.
Amnesty International - July 2010
Testimonials:
"I chose the profession of journalist to put the service of freedom of expression, for the sake of truth and integrity. I am willing to assume the risks of this choice and follow the same path of those who came before me, with as much courage and so courage. The unfair trials and sentences fail to deter, even if my life is at stake. I am ready to sacrifice on the altar of freedom and democracy. "
(Fahem Boukadous, July 10, 2010)
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