SNJT condemns verdict against Sonia Dahmani and all prison sentences in expression and publishing cases

Tunis: The National Union of Tunisian Journalists said in a statement on Saturday evening that the verdict against commentator and lawyer Sonia Dahmani was "a continuation of the dangerous deviation that has been observed for a year in the judicial treatment of press freedom cases".This creates a tense public atmosphere that perpetuates a one-sided discourse which destroys the rules of pluralism and independence in the media and violates the constitutional principles that enshrine rights and freedoms," the statement said.On Friday, the Criminal Chamber No. 8 of the Tunis Court of First Instance sentenced lawyer Sonia Dahmani to one year in prison for comments she made on a private television channel about sub-Saharan Africans, her lawyer Sami Ben Ghazi told TAP on Saturday.In its statement, the union condemned what it called the "punitive policy" of the Tunisian judiciary, which criminalises expression in the digital space and prosecutes journalists and media professionals for media content critical of public policy.The court had charged Dahmani with inciting, promoting and disseminating false news and rumours with the aim of violating the rights of others and harming public security, under Article 24 of Decree 54 on combating crimes committed through information and communication systems.This verdict comes in the context of the continuing series of prison sentences imposed on journalists, media workers and digital communicators under Decree 54, according to the statement.The SNJT recalled that it had called for the withdrawal and suspension of Decree 54, following the submission of a legislative initiative to amend it, because of the danger it posed to freedom of expression in the digital space and its contradiction with the provisions of the Constitution and Tunisia's national and international commitments to protect freedom of expression.In this context, the National Union of Tunisian Journalists reiterated its call on the current authorities to apply Decree 115 of 2011 to the prosecution of jour nalists, to put an end to all punitive attacks against journalists and media workers, and to create a fair and safe climate for expression.This is "especially as Tunisia is about to hold presidential elections, which require a safe climate in which freedom of expression is exercised on an equal footing, without threats or intimidation, and in which rights and freedoms are guaranteed". It added.Source: Agence Tunis Afrique Presse