Attacks on the Press 2001: Middle East Analysis
Bucking a worldwide trend toward democracy in the post-Cold War era, the political landscape of the Middle East and North Africa remained dominated by an assortment of military-backed regimes, police states, autocracies, and oligarchies. A new, younger generation of leaders has emerged in some countries in recent years, inheriting power and bringing hope for political…
Attacks on the Press 2001: Tunisia
Throughout his 15 years in power, President Zine al-Abidine Ben Ali has sought to stifle all dissent while portraying Tunisia as a progressive and democratic nation. Sadly, he has had considerable success. Members of the U.S. Congress, for example, continued to heap praise on Ben Ali while ignoring his dismal human rights and press freedom…
Attacks on the Press 2001: Journalists in Prison
There were 118 journalists in prison around the world at the end of 2001 who were jailed for practicing their profession. The number is up significantly from the previous year, when 81 journalists were in jail, and represents a return to the level of 1998, when 118 were also imprisoned.
Journalist attacked after being released from prison
New York, August 20, 2001—Plainclothes police officers attacked Tunisian journalist and human rights activist Sihem Bensedrine and a group of her supporters on August 17 as they gathered to celebrate her recent release from prison, Bensedrine told CPJ. Bensedrine was jailed for six weeks after criticizing the Tunisian government during a June 17 television appearance…
Journalist and human rights activist jailed after London TV appearance
New York, June 28, 2001 — CPJ is gravely concerned about the recent arrest of Tunisian human rights activist and journalist Sihem Bensendrine, apparently for criticizing the regime of President Zine Al-Abdine Ben Ali during a London television appearance. Bensendrine is the spokeswoman for the non-governmental National Council for Liberties in Tunisia (CNLT) and the…
Who Shot Riad Ben Fadhel? On anniversary of assassination attempt against Tunisian journalist, CPJ calls for justice
New York, May 22, 2001 — CPJ today called on the Tunisian government to bring to justice the perpetrators of last year’s assassination attempt against Tunisian journalist Riad Ben Fadhel, who was wounded in a drive-by shooting outside his home in the capital, Tunis. Ben Fadhel was shot on May 23, 2000, just days after…
Attacks on the Press 2000: Middle East and North Africa Analysis
ALTHOUGH RIGHTS TO FREE EXPRESSION AND PRESS FREEDOM are enshrined in national constitutions from Algeria to Yemen, governments found many practical ways to restrict these freedoms. State ownership of the media, censorship, legal harassment, intimidation, and imprisonment of journalists were again among the favored tools of repression and control. In Iraq, Libya, Saudi Arabia, Syria,…
Attacks on the Press 2000: Tunisia
PRESIDENT ZINE AL-ABIDINE BEN ALI CONTINUED TO DENY BASIC LIBERTIES, including press freedom, even as his government’s shameful human-rights record came under increased international scrutiny. For the third year in a row, CPJ named Ben Ali to its annual list of the “Ten Worst Enemies of the Press.” Over the years, Ben Ali has stifled…