Senior Tunisian police commissioner Samir Feriani was a public critic of the way officers previously linked to torture and censorship continue to hold influence over the security services, was dramatically arrested and initially held incommunicado on 29 May. Anti-terrorist police allegedly rammed his car before seizing him.

Feriani was arrested and later charged after he sent a strongly-worded letter to Interior Minister Habib Essid in which he blamed current officials for allowing protesters to be killed during the January 2011 Tunisian revolution, and warned that “notorious torturers” remain at large. He also accused officers of destroying official records, including some taken from the former residence of the late PLO Leader Yasser Arafat. His accusations were reported in two newspapers, El Khabir and l’Audace, before his arrest.

Civil society claims “victory”

29 September, a military court acquitted him of charges of “harming the external security of the state,” and declined to hear two other charges of distributing information “likely to harm public order,” and “accusing, without proof, a public agent of violating the law.” Though the last two charges may yet be transferred to a civilian court, the Thursday verdict was celebrated widely by Feriani’s supporters and his family. The day-long hearing was observed by members of the International Freedom of Expression Exchange Tunisia Monitoring Group (IFEX-TMG), a coalition of 21 free expression groups including Norwegian PEN. Feriani told the IFEX-TMG observers that the verdict was not about him, but about all Tunisia and the right to freedom of expression. He was particularly pleased that the court had proved its independence from political interference and had delivered a fair and transparent verdict. Thanking the IFEX-TMG for its support, he said he had not yet decided his next steps and would simply “wait and see,” adding, “The most important thing now is Tunisia settles down and the remains of the regime disappear.”

NGOs call to continue democratic reforms

In the course of a two-day strategy workshop held in Tunis on 27 and 28 September, Tunisian media and civil society participants invited by the IFEX-TMG shared their assessment of the media landscape nine months after the revolution and formulated recommendations and action plans to guide the reform of the media sector, create the legal and institutional framework on freedom of expression, promote the development of the broadcast and print media sectors, and protect the Internet from the resurgence of censorship. Among the priorities highlighted by the participants were:

The establishment of an independent regulatory body that can effectively promote the independence and growth of a public service, private, commercial and community broadcasting sector.
The adoption of positive measures that support the development and reach of independent print, broadcast and online media. 
The promotion of a digital culture, by supporting blogging, online activism and citizen journalism.
The empowerment and protection of journalists dedicated to quality journalism that can serve and inform the public at large.

The IFEX-TMG members wish to acknowledge the outstanding dedication of media professionals, civil society groups and consultative bodies in reforming the media sector and achieving reforms and professionalism after decades of repression and hardship. Their ambition and vision for their profession and society can no longer be held hostage by those whose only desire is to stall the reform process to protect their own interest

The workshop was led by the World Association of Newspapers and News Publishers (WAN-IFRA) in cooperation with the World Association of Community Radio Broadcasters (AMARC), Index on Censorship and ARTICLE 19

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