Saied questions those who say there is no freedom of expression in Tunisia

16 Feb. (EUROPA PRESS) –

Tunisian President Kais Saied has questioned those who claim that there is no freedom of expression in Tunisia on the same day that thousands of journalists have taken to the streets to denounce the deterioration of press freedom in the country.

“Today we are talking about press freedom. Has any newspaper or program been banned? Has any journalist been prosecuted for work related to press freedom? Unfortunately, lies and rumors are known to the public,” has said.

In this sense, the Tunisian president added, after a meeting with the Prime Minister, Najla Buden Romhdane, that the people know “the truth”, since the evidence is “clear”, as reported by the Mosaique FM station.

His words come the same day that thousands of journalists have taken to the streets in the capital in a call organized by the Union of Tunisian Journalists (SNJT) to denounce the “systematic” policies of the Government, which seek to control the media. .

“The current ruling power is an enemy of the media who would like to replace media establishments with Facebook pages to broadcast their messages,” SNJT president Mehdi Jelasi said during a rally, according to the TAP news agency.

The call comes after the campaign to arrest opponents in recent days, including Nurredín Bhiri, a senior official from the Islamist Ennahda party, and Zahr al Akram. Also among the detainees is the director of the Mosaique FM radio station, Nurredín Butar.