Tunisian journalists went on unprecedented general strike for the first time in the history of the country since independence from the French on March 20, 1956, protesting what they describe as the attempt of the government, led by the Islamic Ennahda Movement, to control the media and restrict freedom of expression in the country that overthrew its dictator, Zine El Abidine Ben Ali, last year.

Tunisian journalists went on unprecedented general strike for the first time in the history of the country since independence from the French on March 20, 1956, protesting what they describe as the attempt of the government, led by the Islamic Ennahda Movement, to control the media and restrict freedom of expression in the country that overthrew its dictator, Zine El Abidine Ben Ali, last year.

Responding to a call launched by the National Syndicate of Tunisian Journalists (SNJT), journalists went on a general strike on Wednesday, October 17, in which all printed, audio-visual and electronic media organizations participated.

“The strike was successful beyond expectations”, says the SNJT Chair, Najiba Hamrouni, who also adds that since the strike responses to calls for  additional strike has started in all public and private media organizations. The SNJT first demand, explains Hamrouni, is that the new constitution provides for freedom of expression and media.

Controlling media

Comprising more than 1,200 journalists, SNJT has considered in its recent statements that the current government seeks to control the public and private media through the appointment of loyalists as heads of media organizations, without elections.

Journalists demand that the transitional government revokes the appointments of heads of some public media institutions, such as ‘Dar Al-Sabah’ and the Tunisian Television Establishment, and that the new constitution provides for the unconditioned freedom of expression, press and creativity. They also demand that the government activates the decrees governing the media sector, mainly Law no. 115 on freedom of the press, printing and publishing, and Decree no. 116 on the audiovisual sector. SNJT rejects all the texts that provide for imprisonment against journalists and restrict the freedom of press and expression.

A massage to the government

“Journalists spontaneously responded” to the historic strike, says Hamrouni who expects it to send clear messages to the transitional government headed by Hamadi Jebali, Secretary General of the Islamic Ennahda Movement.

For the first time in the Tunisian history, broadcasters of government and private TV channels declined to appear in newscasts. News was broadcasted in the form of headlines and TVs only broadcasted programs on the strike as well as freedom songs.

Journalists gathered at the headquarters of newspapers without starting their work and then moved to a rally at the SNJT headquarters midday on Wednesday, raising slogans calling for “freedom of the media and restraining the government’s control on the media”. The majority of newspapers published news on the strike in front pages and organized protests in front of institutions.

The SNJT regulated the way of expressing the strike for printed and electronic journalism, through signing the strike document and refraining from covering events. For radio, only news was presented, in addition to announcing that journalists were on strike, with only one brief newscast.

Supporters of the strike

Figures from opposition parties and civil society supported the strike. Citizens also joined the strikers at the SNJT in solidarity with them.

The strike received support by the International Federation of Journalists whose secretary-general visited Tunisia to support the strike. It also received support by the Federation of Arab Journalists (FAJ) and several African and Western Unions.

“Thousands of Arab journalists will go on a strike for two hours in solidarity with their colleagues in Tunisia. Journalist syndicates in Europe will organize sit-ins in front of Tunisian embassies,” said Ziad el-Heni, member of the SNJT executive office.

During a visit to the SNJT headquarters on Tuesday, October 16, the French ambassador in Tunisia, François Gouyette, expressed support to the journalists’ demands for freedom of expression and backed the strike.

More than 320 audio-visual and printed Arab media institutions announced response to the FAJ invitation to strike for one hour in solidarity with Tunisian journalists. Meanwhile, journalists from Lebanon, Egypt, Jordan, Morocco, and Kuwait announced they would protest in solidarity, denouncing the violations against the Tunisian media and the attempts “to tame and subjugate it”.

Ziad Krishan, chief editor of ‘Le Maghreb’ newspaper, which ceased publication said, “The Ennahda Movement and Salafist movements have chosen to encourage a negative climate targeting the media in the context of a psychological warfare, aiming at confusing the sector and pushing it to give up its independence.”

He acknowledged, however, “it is an exaggeration to say that the media situation is catastrophic and freedom is targeted.” In his opinion, the Tunisia media has been living in an unprecedented prosperous period since the revolution.

Condemnation and response

For its part, the prime ministry denounced the SNJT call and insistence on the strike, and said in a statement that it valued the purpose of the call from a procedural point of view and put it in the context of exercising union rights, which it committed to as a gain of the revolution.

In a later statement issued on the same day, the government said it would activate decrees 115 and 116, which were ratified by the previous government led by Beji Caid Essebsi in November 2011.

“Reporters Without Borders” expressed serious concern about the legal uncertainty of the activity of the Tunisian media. “We’re still worried because of the lack of clear legal frameworks of the Tunisian media, which respect international standards.”