CPJ demand the Tunisian president to stop violations of free expression

Committee to ProtectJournalists sent a letter to Ben Ali - it is the second during 4 months- to protest reprisals against critical journalists and their families.
"It is inconceivable that free and fair elections can take place in an environment in which independent media are harassed and silenced. We urge you to honor your oft-stated commitment to promote free expression, and we ask that you instruct your government to allow our colleagues to perform their work unhindered." stated CPJ. The letter expressed deep concern about persistence on retaliatory measures against journalists denouncing the contradiction between power’s discourse and media situation in Tunisia. The CPJ called the president to take immediate and firm measures to stop harassment on independent journalists and to create a harmony between practices of government and international standards of freedom of expression. CPJ research shows that no progress has been made toward ending drastic restrictions on independent journalism and halting harassment and intimidation of critical journalists and their families since our 2008 report, "The Smiling Oppressor." In April, CPJ cited Tunisia as one of the worst countries in the world in respecting online expression.