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:

Reporters Without Borders
47, rue Vivienne
75002 Paris
France
rsf (@) rsf.org
Phone: +33 1 44 83 84 84
Fax: +33 1 45 23 11 51
 

Stay on top of free expression news.

Sign up to receive the weekly IFEX Communiqué.


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

Tunisia

Court urged to drop prison sentence given to journalist 7 February 2012 Rapper arrested, detained, for lyrics critical of outcome of revolution 6 February 2012 Director charged for broadcasting "Persepolis"; journalists assaulted 26 January 2012 Media independence crucial to democratic transition, says ARTICLE 19 11 January 2012 See all alerts: Tunisia


 
The International Freedom of Expression eXchange (IFEX) is a global network of 95 organisations working to defend and promote the right to 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.