International Freedom of Expression Exchange
Tunisia Monitoring Group
Press Release - 22/02/05
International freedom of expression organizations today expressed grave concern about the poor state of freedom of expression in Tunisia, host country for the World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS) which is to be held in Tunis, November 2005.
A 60-page report on the state of freedom of expression in Tunisia and the conditions for participation in the WSIS to be held in Tunis, November 2005 has been published today by the International Freedom of expression Exchange Tunisia Monitoring Group, a group of 13 national, regional and international freedom of expression organizations.
The report, released to coincide with the second Preparatory Committee for the WSIS, in Geneva 17-25 February, sets out the findings of a mission to Tunisia of freedom of expression groups. It makes a series of recommendations to the Tunisian government to bring the country in line with international human rights standards.
The main recommendations of the report are that the Tunisian government should release all prisoners of opinion, end arbitrary administrative detentions, release the cyber-dissidents of Zarzis and Ariana, end harassment and assaults on human rights activists, stop blocking websites, end censorship of books and newspapers, open up the press and broadcasting sector, respect freedom of movement, assembly and association, allow independent investigation of alleged cases of torture by the security forces.
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Further information:
Alexis Krikorian +41 79 214 5530
The full report is available at:
English http://www.ifex.org/en/content/view/full/64665/
French http://www.ifex.org/fr/content/view/full/64664/