Tunisian president reassures journalists: Upholding freedom of expression

Tunisian President Kais Saied stressed, on Thursday, his commitment to freedom of expression and his commitment to free media.

A statement published by the Tunisian presidency quoted Saied as saying during a meeting with former Syndicate of Journalists and his former media advisor Rachida Al-Nifer that freedom of expression must be preceded by freedom of thought.

“The national thought seeks to preserve the state and its institutions and to make the press an instrument of expression”, Saied said.

The Tunisian President noted that there was no room for restrictions on the press, and that it was more important that each party assume its responsibility in the circumstances in Tunisia.

Earlier on Thursday, head of the Tunisian Journalists Syndicate Mohamed Yassine Jelassi said that “the imminent danger facing the freedom of the press is mainly due to the many physical violations to which journalists are exposed, especially during coverage of field events, and the violation of the right of access to information”.

“This is the worst period in Tunisia’s history in terms of access to information because of the systematic blackout policy practiced by the authorities with the blessing of the president of the republic”, he said during a protest on the occasion of World Press Freedom Day.

The head of the Journalists Syndicate said there are entities in the government and the opposition that are trying to domesticate the profession and bring it to its knees.