Radio Kalima began to broadcast via satellite on 26 January, with its staff reportedly receiving police threats from the outset. The Committee to Project Journalists (CPJ) reported the detention of one of the radio’s journalists, Dhafer Otay, on 27 January. After being held for four hours he was released without charge, but threatened with arrest if he returned to the radio’s offices.
An International Freedom of Expression eXchange (IFEX) appeal describes how the radio was surrounded by police, whose numbers have reportedly been increased to a 60 strong force. Employees of the radio station were also said to be unwilling to leave the premises for fear of being denied re-entry. The police prevented several staff members and radio guests from entering, as well as barring human rights activists from entering different offices located in the same building.
Particularly disturbing are the reports of police violence as outlined by CPJ, including the assault of human rights defender Zouhayr Makhouf, and the use of a knife to threaten Omar Mestrir, the managing editor of the Kalima Web magazine.
On 30 January, Front Line Defenders reported that Radio Kalima was raided by police who ‘cut the telephone lines and seized the radio equipment.’ This in effect, cuts those who remain in the offices from outside communication and prevents the station from broadcasting.
The online news site Kalima was targeted last year, run by the same team behind Radio Kalima and continues to be blocked within Tunisia.
Tunisia’s Press Code remains under criticism by the Human Rights Committee of the United Nations. Article 59 of the code in particular is considered a violation of Article 19 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. Article 59 allows severe penalties for defamation including imprisonment, whilst the current definition makes it subject to abuse by officials.
