Tunisia’s State TV Bars All Political Parties From Talk Shows, Harming Press Freedom, Journalists Say

Tunisia’s state television channel has barred all political parties from appearing on talk shows and from even entering its building. The ban by state television channel al-Wataniya began in July, National Syndicate of  Tunisian Journalists head Mehdi Jlassi told Reuters, when Tunisia’s president, Kais Saied, fired the government and suspended parliament, and assumed executive authority in a move his critics have called a coup. They are the first restrictions since the 2011 revolution that ended the autocratic rule of President Zine El Abidine Ben Ali, Jlassi said on Tuesday. He called the move a “political decision” that “threatens press freedoms.” But the state broadcaster told Reuters that it still covers all political parties’ activities, without exception. On Monday, Saied criticized Tunisia’s local media, saying they “lie, lie like news bulletins.” State news agency TAP still provides coverage critical of Tunisian authorities and gives space to the president’s political opponents, according to Reuters.