19 December 2008

Alert

TV reporter sentenced in absentia to six years in prison for covering demonstrations


Incident details

Fahem Boukadous

journalist(s)

sentenced

This is available in:

English Français
(RSF/IFEX) - Reporters Without Borders has learned that a court in Gafsa (350 km south of Tunis) sentenced reporter Fahem Boukadous in absentia on 11 December 2008 to six years in prison on a charge of "forming a criminal association liable to attack persons and their property" for covering demonstrations in the Gafsa mining region.

Boukadous works for Al-Hiwar Attounsi, a privately-owned TV station based in Italy that broadcasts to Tunisia.

"This harsh sentence is yet another example of the arbitrary manner in which all those who upset the authorities are treated," Reporters Without Borders said. "Journalism is a high-risk profession in Tunisia. The judicial system is subservient to the government led by President Zine el-Abidine Ben Ali and is always ready to convict anyone who could oppose the regime. Boukadous was just doing his job as a reporter."

Boukadous' lawyer, Abderraouf al-Ayadi, told Reporters Without Borders the aim of the sentence was to prevent Boukadous from working as a journalist. "Fahem Boukadous never participated in the protests," he said. "He just sent footage of the incidents in the Gafsa mining region to the TV station."

The lawyer added: "The police reports criticise Boukadous for his coverage of the protests, but Tunisian law does not punish TV broadcasts or working as a journalist. This decision was designed to sow terror among Tunisian journalists."

Updates the Boukadous case: http://www.ifex.org/en/content/view/full/98501



Source:

Putting free expression issues in perspective.

Sign up to receive IFEX In Context.

More on this case

IFEX-TMG welcomes release of Fahem Boukadous but says struggle for freedom of expression not over yet 19 January 2011 IFJ seeks freedom for ailing journalist Fahem Boukadous 19 January 2011 IFEX-TMG members call for immediate release of ailing journalist on hunger strike 12 October 2010 IFJ condemns police obstruction of demonstration for imprisoned journalist 24 September 2010 Urge authorities to release journalist Fahem Boukaddous, ensure he receives medical care 21 July 2010 IFEX-TMG appeals to Tunisia's partners to save the life of ailing journalist in prison 16 July 2010 Journalist Fahem Boukaddous addresses public in open letter 14 July 2010 IFEX-TMG condemns jail term handed to journalist Fahem Boukaddous 7 July 2010 Journalist Fahem Boukaddous sentenced to four years in prison 7 July 2010 CPJ urges government to end harassment of independent journalists 25 March 2010 Journalist sentenced to four years in prison 15 January 2010 Journalist Fahem Boukadous comes out of hiding 26 November 2009 Four journalists including one working for Radio Kalima detained, questioned for several hours; issue of weekly "Ettarik Al-Jadid" seized; six-years sentence against journalist Fahem Boukadous upheld 10 February 2009 Independent TV reporter wanted by police for coverage of unrest in mining region 13 November 2008

At a glance

Tunisia
Tunisia

IFEX members working in this country 1

 
Key reports and information
 
IFEX is a global network of committed organisations working to defend and promote free expression.
Permission is granted for material on this website to be reproduced or republished in whole or in part provided the source member and/or IFEX is cited with a link to the original item.