The National Union of Tunisian journalists (French: SNJT) strongly decried Sunday’s violent verbal attacks on journalists and reporters in Habib Bourguiba Avenue while on duty.

The journalists were covering a demonstration staged by political parties and civil society to protest against the exceptional measures taken by the President of the Republic.

Protesters targeted journalists and accused them of “working for foreign parties,” the SNJT said Monday. They also called them “media of shame.”

“Police officers intervened to protect journalists after the union got in touch wit the Interior Ministry’s crisis cell,” the SNJT added.

These attacks were committed by political parties “known for their hostility towards journalists and the freedom of press,” and “their repeated attacks on media people over the past few years.”

These practices demonstrate an attempt to infringe on freedom of press and a desperate willingness by some political parties to “involve journalists in political conflicts.”

Ongoing attempts to lay hands on media is a a serious violation of press freedom and journalistic work , the union further said.

The SNJT called, in this vein, for respecting journalists and the nature of their work

Source: Tap News Agency