La FIJ se réjouit de la libération de Slim Boukhdhir

Media Release

23 July 2008

IFJ Welcomes Release of Tunisian Journalist from Prison

The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) today welcomed the release of Tunisian journalist and human rights activist Slim Boukhdir. Boukhdir, who has been the frequent target of harassment by Tunisian authorities, on Monday was released early from a one-year prison sentence.

The authorities used the prison sentence to send a message to Slim and to other independent journalists that their reporting will lead to jail time, said Aidan White, IFJ General Secretary. We hope that his release will mark a turning-point in Tunisia and that authorities will not resort to harsh punishment to silence the press.

Boukhdir was arrested on November 26, 2007, in the town of Sfax as he was travelling to Tunis in a collective taxi. In December he received a sentence totalling one year in jail for verbal attacks on security agents and disorderly conduct and was given a small fine for refusing to show ID when asked.

He was released after a campaign by the Tunisian journalists union, IFJ affiliate Syndicat National des Journalistes Tunisiens (SNJT), protested against the harsh prison sentence the journalist received for minor charges and called for his release.

The IFJ and its affiliates in the Middle East and North Africa supported the campaign by the SNJT and called on the Tunisian government to free Boukhdir, and stop targeting journalists for their independent reporting.

For more information contact the IFJ at +32 2 235 2207

The IFJ represents over 600,000 journalists in 120 countries worldwide