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Journalists hold up signs reading in Arabic “fourth estate, not kneeling estate” and “journalists’ rights are not privileges”, as they demonstrate outside the headquarters of the Tunis Africa Press (TAP) news agency, in Tunis, 15 April 2021, FETHI BELAID/AFP via Getty Images A number of IFEX members join rights groups in welcoming the Tunisian government s decision to rescind a controversial appointment to the country s national news agency, Tunis Africa Press (TAP), and call on those who ordered a police attack on the agency s journalists during a peaceful sit-in to be held accountable.
The undersigned NGOs welcome the Tunisian government’s decision to withdraw its nomination of a controversial political appointment as director general of the country’s national news agency, Tunis Africa Press (TAP), and express their support to Tunisians’ right to independent public media, committed to ethical journalism. They strongly condemn, however, the 13 A
April 21, 2021 at 3:37 pm | Published in: Africa, News, Tunisia
Journalists hold up signs as they gather for a demonstration outside the headquarters of Tunisia s national Tunis Afrique Presse (TAP) news agency in the capital on April 15, 2021 [FETHI BELAID/AFP via Getty Images] April 21, 2021 at 3:37 pm
The newly appointed Director-General of the
Tunis Afrique Presse (
TAP), Kamel Ben Younes, announced his resignation yesterday, after days of protests by journalists who rejected his designation as head of the body.
Ben Younes said that he resigned in order to avoid engaging in political disputes , adding that the typical management of a public media institution requires a comprehensive reform plan in which administrators, specialists in modern management, media professionals and experts participate, away from settling accounts.
Journalists at Tunisia’s state news agency protest the appointment of a new chief executive.
The protesting media professionals say the appointment of Kamel Ben Younes is an attempt at undermining editorial independence.
Dozens of the journalists gathered infront of the news agency, known as Tunis Afrique Presse (TAP) chanting ‘’TAP is free’’. We have never seen a CEO who was appointed and who has access to the TAP Agency thanks to the police. It has never happened even in the other establishments , said Salma Henni, journalist within the political service of TAP.
According to the journalists, Kamel Ben Younes, is too close to the moderate Islamist Ennahda, the biggest party in parliament, accusing him of backing moves to control the press before the 2011 revolution brought democracy.
IFJ 13 April 2021
Tunisia: Police raid news agency to quell journalists protests
Police today stormed the headquarters of the national Tunisian news agency TAP in a bid to quell protests by journalists over the appointment of a new director general. The IFJ joined its Tunisian affiliate, SNJT, in condemning the raid and calling for an end to political appointments at the agency. Credits: TAP News
Video captured by journalists graphically showed the moment the police raided the building in Tunis, manhandling and assaulting journalists. In response journalists chanted and demanded the police leave the premises. Other videos later showed the director general leaving the building under police protection via a back door.