Full Coverage: Tunisia

12.01.2006 "The Tunisian authorities continue to show intolerance of independent opinion and free expression," said Aidan White, IFJ General Secretary. "But they are seriously mistaken if they think this will discourage journalists from expressing their solidarity with colleagues in Tunisia." In a letter to President Ben Ali, IFJ says that all obstacles on the use of Internet technology and access to information should be lifted, except where they are in line with international standards which may limit access to anti-social sites, covering, for instance, child pornography or incitement to violence.

10.01.2006 A squabble over who controls the internet had threatened to overshadow the World Summit on the Information Society in Tunisia. But a “compromise” deal was reached just before the meeting opened, under which America will retain its hegemony for the time being. This leaves delegates free to discuss bridging the digital divide between rich and poor countries.

09.01.2006 The International Federation of Journalists today protested to the Tunisian government over the banning of the Federation?s web site. In recent weeks, following the World Summit on the Information Society in November when the IFJ sharply criticised restrictions on Internet use and harassment of human rights activists, the IFJ web site has been unobtainable.