Media freedom in Tunisia stirs wide debate

The closure by the Independent High Authority for Audiovisual Communication of four media institutions, under the pretext of benefiting from the influence of some parties and political figures for broadcasting without regularizing their situation, has stirred wide controversy and growing concern about the fate of media institutions in Tunisia.
Tunisian journalists protest during a strike, after months of rising tensions with the Islamist-led government, which is accused of curbing press freedom and seeking to control public media groups, Tunis, Tunisia, Oct. 17, 2012.
Tunisian journalists protest during a strike, after months of rising tensions with the Islamist-led government, which is accused of curbing press freedom and seeking to control public media groups, Tunis, Tunisia, Oct. 17, 2012. - Fethi Belaid/AFP via Getty Images
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Mohamed Ali Ltifi
@MohamedAliLtifi

TUNIS, Tunisia — Tunisia’s media regulator has recently shut down a number of media outlets, stirring a wide controversy on the future of the press in the country. The private Tunisian Hannibal TV announced Oct. 31 in a statement on its Facebook page that it decided to automatically and temporarily suspend broadcasting until its legal situation is settled and it obtains a broadcasting license.

The channel explained that its move comes in response to the decision of the Independent High Authority for Audiovisual Communication (HAICA) instructing it to immediately halt broadcasting or face legal measures. HAICA had issued in September a decision to stop the licensing and legal situation regularization procedures of the channel.

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