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Une action en hommage à Zouhair Yahyaoui
18 juillet 2014, par jectk79

Mon amie ne sait pas rediger un com sur un article. Du coup il voulais souligner par ce commentaire qu’il est ravi du contenu de ce blog internet.


Pourquoi aller tracer partout pour faire établir des évaluations de d’assurances familiales alors qu’existent des portails tels que Sherpa-mutuelle.fr proposant de rapprocher les propositions avec un comparateur mutuelle sophistiqué en restant votre demeure ? site => mutuelle obligatoire


Abderrazek Bourguiba condamné à 25 mois de prison
15 novembre 2011, par Bourguiba

je vous remercie
bourguiba abderrazak



Quelques points marquant contre l’environnement en Tunisie
6 novembre 2011, par xZNRpEkXvbSPvAf

I like to party, not look articles up online. You made it hpaepn.



Et puis y a eu la Révolution :)
1er novembre 2011, par liliopatra

On est mardi 1er novembre 2011, déjà neuf mois que ben ali s’est enfui et il est caché, comme un rat, en Arabie Saudite. Son collègue Gaddafi a été tué.
Après la lecture de cette lettre, tout cela parait être comme un cauchemar pour celles et ceux qui ne l’ont pas vécu personnellement. Cependant, le mal a sévi longtemps, beaucoup trop longtemps en Tunisie. Il est temps que ça change.
Tout un système policier qui s’effondre, la justice vient de renaître, certes encore fragile mais sera équitable insh’Allah.



Va chialer ailleurs ( reponse)
30 octobre 2011, par Maud

Oui il a un fils qui est mon meilleur ami et croyez moi, même si son père et loin de lui sa ne fait pas de lui un mauvais père il s’occupe très bien de lui et Selim va le voir de temps en temps. Je suis au cœur de cette affaire et je peux donc savoir les ressentis de chacun...



Va chialer ailleurs ( reponse)
30 octobre 2011, par Maud

ةcoutez quand on ne connait pas la personne on ne juge pas ! Je connais personnellement Monsieur Tebourski et je sais que c’est un homme bon, et je pense que si il a demander a rester en France c’est surtout pour son Fils !
Ne le jugez pas car vous ne le connaissez pas comme je le connais ! Je suis la meilleure amie de son fils Selim. Je sais qu’Adel est un homme bon alors arrêtez tous vos blabla et essayer donc de comprendre le fond de la chose. Merci et bonne soirée



> Une pétition de 86 prisonniers tunisiens
30 octobre 2011, par Moussa

the death of an African giant

Par : Y. Mérabet
En outre, contrairement à ce que pensent aujourd’hui de nombreux libyens, la chute de Kadhafi profite à tout le monde sauf à eux. Car, dans une Afrique où les pays de la zone subsaharienne riche en ressources minérales tournaient complètement le dos à la France pour aller vers la Chine, il fallait bien que monsieur Sarkozy trouve un autre terrain fertile pour son pays. La France n’arrive plus à vendre ses produits manufacturés ou de décrocher un marché en Afrique, elle risque de devenir un PSD C’est pour cela que l’on a vu une France prête à tout pour renverser ou assassiner Kadhafi ; surtout quand l’on sait que la Libye est l’une des premières réserves en Hydrocarbures d’Afrique et de Sebha est la capitale mondiale du trafic Franco-libyen de concentré d’uranium Nigérien. Egalement, l’on sait que jusqu’ici, les populations libyennes n’avaient rien à envier aux Français, ils vivaient richement mieux sans se suer. Puisque Kadhafi faisait tout son possible pour les mettre à l’abri du besoin. Il est donc temps pour les libyens de choisir pleinement futur partenaire occidental. Car si en cinquante ans de coopération la France n’a pu rien apporter à l’Afrique subsaharienne. Vat-elle apporter maintenant aux libyens un bonheur supérieur à celui que leur donnait leur Guide. Rien à offrir à ces ignorants de libyens, sauf des repas communs dans les poubelles de la ville Paris, en France c’est déjà la famine ? Lui, qui durant plusieurs décennies était l’un des faiseurs d’hommes les plus efficaces sur le continent Africain. De son existence, Kadhafi était le leader le plus généreux d’Afrique. Pas un seul pays africain ne peut nier aujourd’hui n’avoir jamais gouté un seul pétro –Dinar du guide Libyen. Aveuglement, et motivé par son projet des Etats-Unis d’Afrique, Kadhafi de son existence a partagé l’argent du pétrole libyen avec de nombreux pays africains, qu’ils soient Francophones, Anglophones ou Lusophones. Au sein même de l’union Africaine, le roi des rois d’Afrique s’était presque érigé en un bailleur de fond très généreux. Jusqu’à l’heure actuelle, il existe sur le continent de nombreux présidents qui ont été portés au pouvoir par Kadhafi. Mais, curieusement, même pas un seul de ces élèves de Kadhafi n’a jusqu’ici eu le courage de lui rendre le moindre hommage.Au lendemain du vote de la résolution 1973 du conseil de sécurité de l’ONU, certains pays membres de l’union africaine sous l’impulsion de Jacob Zuma ont tenté d’apporter un léger soutien au guide libyen. Un soutien qui finalement s’est éteint totalement sans que l’on ne sache pourquoi. Même l’union africaine qui au départ conditionnait avec amertume la prise du pouvoir libyen par un groupe de terroristes et la reconnaissance du CNT libyen constitués de traitres, s’est finalement rétracté de façon inexplicable. Et curieusement, jusqu’aujourd’hui, aucun gouvernement consensuel n’a été formé en Libye. Depuis l’annonce de l’assassinat de Mouammar Kadhafi, cette union africaine dont Mouammar Kadhafi était pourtant l’un des principaux défenseurs et ayant assuré le dernier mandat, n’a encore délivré aucun message officiel de condoléance à ses proches ou de regret. Egalement, même ceux qui hier tentaient de le soutenir n’ont pas eu le moindre courage de lever leur petit doigt pour rendre hommage à leur mentor. Jusqu’à l’heure actuel, seul l’ancien archevêque sud-africain et prix Nobel de paix Desmond TUTU a regretté cet acte ignoble. Même le président Abdoulaye Wade que l’on sait pourtant proche des révoltés libyens n’a pas encore salué la mort de l’homme qu’il souhaitait tant. Le lendemain de sa mort, un vendredi pas un musulman n’a prié pour lui ?.. A ce jour, sur le continent Africain, seul l’homme de la rue et les medias ont le courage de parler de cette assassina crapuleux du guide libyen. Mais, cette attitude des dirigeants africains ne surprend personne, dans la mesure où l’on sait que chaque président a peur de se faire remarquer par un Nicolas Sarkozy qui est capable de tout si la tête d’un président africain ou d’un arabe l’énerve.
Conclusion La Libye et l’Afrique toute entière viennent de tourner une page d’or avec la perte de Mouammar .
Traitre et maudit que je sois, si j’étais un libyen ?

Journaliste indépendant (Algérian Society for International Relations)
119, Rue Didouche Mourad
Alger centre



Liberté pour le Docteur Sadok Chourou
29 octobre 2011, par Dr. Jamel Tazarki

J’ai écrit un livre qui mérite d’être lu :
TOUT EST POSSIBLE - L’AVENIR DE LA TUNISIE
Vous pouvez télécharger le livre sur mon site Internet :
http://www.go4tunisia.de
Dr. Jamel Tazarki
Allemagne



DECES D’OMAR CHLENDI
28 octobre 2011, par bourguiba

Ma mére Térésa oui notre mére je suis abderrazak bourguiba le frére de mon meilleur ami Farouk .
vous peut etre me connait mais je pense pas que nous avont eu l’occasion de vous voir .

je suis désolé pour ce qui a passé pour mon frére Farouk .
Omar etait un homme exeptionnel un vrai homme j’ai passé avec lui 6 mois dans le prison nous étions plus que deux fréres.

soyez fiére de Farouk
et que la paradi soit pour lui



Projet libéral pour une nouvelle monarchie démocratique et laïque en Tunisie
22 octobre 2011, par Victor Escroignard

La Monarchie Constitutionnelle est l’avenir est la garantie des droits et libertés pour la Tunisie, la Libye et toute l’Afrique du Nord. Le Roi est l’âme du peuple, Il est porteur du sentiment d’unité nationale et du patrimoine historique du peuple. LA MONARCHIE CONSTITUTIONNELLE EST LE PLUS SUR MOYEN POUR EVITER QU’UN PRESIDENT FINISSE UN JOUR EN DICTATEUR (voyez le cas du roi d’Espagne, sauveur des libertés après le Franquisme).



> Lotfi Hamdi, une Barbouze qui se voit ministrable
4 octobre 2011, par Anti Lotfi Hamdi

Bonjour Mesdames, Messieurs,

Je souhaite attirer votre attention sur le faite que ce Barbouze comme vous le dites, a retourné sa veste à l’instant où il s’est assuré du départ définitif du ZABA plus exactement le 18 Janvier 2011.

Mais encore ce dernier qui détient pas un seul titre comme auprès du RCD mais aussi faison parti de plusieurs association et surout la chambre Franco-Tunisienne de marseille ou il a volé récemment le portfolio pour se faire une nouvelle peau et une nouvelle virginité auprès de la Tunisie, avec un pseudo symposium tenue au pôle technologique sis à la Gazelle (Ariana).

Rappel du passé : Khaled Néji représentant de l’office de l’huile près du consulat générale de Tunisie à Marseille a été victime de sa (Stoufida).
Monsieur Kahled Néji a été limogé de son poste, radié de ses fonctions, décédés suite à une attaque cardiaque après avoir visité les prisons Tunisiennes

Je souhaite que cette personne n’intervienne plus sur le sol Tunisien afin de crée des réseaux encore pire qu’avant et revenir au pouvoir par la fenêtre.

Aidez moi à dire la vérité sur ce malheureux de la Sbikha (kairouan) qui fout la honte à son peuple.

Ce Virus, qui trompe sa femme sans scrupule ni honte. A trahit ce que nos ancêtres ont essayé de bâtir, bravour, fraternité dévouement, sincérité.

Il est et il sera toujours à l’antipode des Tunisiens , lèches botes et au plurielles

Vive la Tunisie sans hypocrites



Blog dédié à la défense du prisonnier politique Abderrahmane TLILI
4 octobre 2011, par bechim

bonjour je suis tres heureuse que mr tlili soit libere mais je n arrive pas avoir de nouvelles precises je tiens a dire que c est un MONSIEUR exceptionnel et qu il ne merite vraiment pas ce qu il a endure j aimerai pouvoir lui exprimer tte ma sympathie



> Tunisie, l’agression abjecte sur Samia Abbou par les voyous de Ben Ali
26 septembre 2011, par Liliopatra

Voilà quatre ans se sont écoulés et votre combat a porté ses fruits. J’aurais pas osé signer ces quelques mots par mon nom réel si vous n’avez pas milité pour ’ma’ liberté. Reconnaissante et le mot ne peut résumer ce que je ressens et tout le respect que je vous porte.

Merci...

Lilia Weslaty



> Les procès de l’ignorance et les progrés de l’Homme
24 septembre 2011, par a posteriori, l’auteur Nino Mucci

Les petits cons s’amusent à faire leurs graffitis imbéciles même sur les statues couvertes de prestige et d’histoire de Carthage ; on en a maintenant fini avec Ben Ali, avec la censure et l’étouffement des idées et de coeur opéré par son régime. Mais on en finira jamais avec l’idiotie des fondamentalistes islamiques qui promenent leurs femmes en burka, parce que c’est la seule façon par laquelle savent voir une femme : comme une bête dangeureuse. On en finira pas facilement, terrible dictature, avec ceux qui demandent maintenant de couper les mains, les jambes et les bras, suivant l’obsolète loi coranique, sans se faire aucun souci de l’Homme. Jésus, le Christ en est le plus grand champion, le Rédempteur de l’humanité, Lui qui a porté la Croix pour nous TOUS ; quant à la mafia et à al-Capone, nous les plaçerons comme un héritage historique de cet islam que tant s’acharnent à défendre par l’ignorance (mafia vient de l’arabe dialectal anciene "mafiah", c’est-à-dire "protection", la mafia est nait et c’est culturellement radiquée dans une ancienne terre d’islam, la Sicile)



que dieu te glorifie.
23 août 2011, par adyl

j’ai aimé ce que vous pensé . suis de ton coté. tu me trouvera a l’appui



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partager:
Le ciel au-dessus de Tunis
report of the Arabic Network for Human Rights Information
the freedom to use the internet in the Arab World
par Rédaction de reveiltunisien.org
21 décembre 2006

The second report of the Arabic Network for Human Rights Information (HRinfo) on the freedom to use the internet in the Arab World

The Internet : New Battle between Arab Governments and Freedom of Expression

Acknowledgements

This is the second report of the Arabic Network for Human Rights Information (HRinfo) on the freedom to use the internet in the Arab World. This report covers 18 Arab countries, providing an overview of how the governments in the Arab world deal with the internet. It includes an update of 11 countries covered in the previous report. It also includes new information with regards to an additional 7 countries that were not previously covered. The report also covers Arab bloggers who have succeeded, over a short period, to play an important role in revealing the conflict between oppression and freedom.

The report was based on field interviews with activists that have resorted to the web, in addition to an opinion poll prepared by HRinfo. The report referred to several human rights and press reports in addition to communications between HRinf o and volunteers from across the Arab World.

The report was prepared and written by Ehab Zelaky, a journalist at the independent Al-Dostour Newspaper. Gamal Eid, HRinfo’s Executive Director and legal researcher, who wrote the chapter on Bloggers in the Arab World and The Introduction. Sally Sami, Program Coordinator, edited the report and prepared it for publication. Dalia Ziada translated the report into English.

HRinfo would like to thank all those who worked on the report for their contribution - including those who declined to take credit for their efforts. We would also like to thank our friends in the region who responded to our poll (HRinfo received 86 responses).

Of course, we would also like to thank the Norwegian Human Rights Fund for supporting this project and for its patience with our delays. The Norwegian Human Rights Fund was highly cooperative and for that we express our appreciation.

Introduction Arabs and the Internet

For Arab governments that say they consider the freedom of expression as a western value and therefore undesirable, the internet becomes a very important tool for a public that find freedom of expression an integral right. This fact helps explains the expansion of internet users in the Arab World. In less than three years the number of users has multiplied from 14 million in 2004 to 26 million in 2006 (1).

Arab governments traditionally restrict freedom of expression and with the war on terror as a ready made excuse have further imposed more restrictions. Yet, with the blocking of thousands of websites, particularly by the governments of Saudi A rabia , Tunisia , and Syria , thousands others were established to compensate the blocked ones. Thus for example, the Muslim Brotherhood in Egypt set up tens of websites to compensate for the blocking of its websites in Egypt and Syria . This gives a clear indication of the difficulties any authority will face if they try to limit the amount of information available on the Internet. Especially if they find themselves in a situation when they have to lift the ban as it is no longer useful as was the case with the website of the Muslim Brotherhood.

Arab governments continuously announce their support of the new technology and implement programs enhance understanding of computers and the internet. While many Arab countries have succeeded in this, others have only distributed computers to its different bureaus without training employees (2).

Security services across the region were the only bodies that were able to unite. Meetings of Arab Ministers of Interior take place without any delays and end only once successful cooperation between the different police bodies in the region has been agreed. These agreements even cover the exchange of information and the new technology. The internet is used very extensively in security cooperation. Any policeman in any airport could simply inform you of your life history, the number of cases filed against you, your political inclination, and affiliations to human rights or political organisations (3). The meeting of the Ministers of Interior in February 2006 in Tunisia indicated clearly this harmony between Arab ministers with regards to blocking websites which "advocate terrorism" though they put forward no clear definition of terrorism (4).

On the other hand, the internet has provided an opportunity for Arab users to communicate with one another and with other people in the world. Such communication created an electronic unity through forums and interactive websites, especially in light of the similar experiences with regards to their oppressive regimes. We find, for example, that the Kefaya (Enough) movement in Egypt was followed by similar movements in Yemen , Libya , and Tunisia . Furthermore, Arab blogs have effectively contributed to the creation of harmony among Arab activists and have provided a venue for strong campaigns defending users who have been exposed to violations by their governments.

WSIS in Tunisia : The magic against the magicians This was the headline used by Al-Jezeera on its websites to describe the consequence of holding the WSIS i n Tunisia in November 2005 (5). Arab governments tried to manipulate this event so as to make it a propaganda tool. However, human rights organizations and those who call for reform well able to use the event in order to put the spot light on the dire reality of freedom of expression, particularly in Tunisia where 8 activists went on a hunger strike to attract attention to the deteriorated situation in Tunisia . In response, the Tunisian president accused them of treason (6).

Islamic websites : Despite the fact that many secularist and non-religious websites have been set up, the highest number of websites are Islamic. This of course reflects interests of Arab internet users. However we cannot disregard the role played by Arab governments to control, censor and block websites. Usually this takes place against political, secularist, and human rights websites. For example the www.rezgar.com website, a secularist site known for its advocacy of freedom of expression, minority rights, and women’s rights, was blocked by at least four countries : Saudi Arabia , UAE, Tunisia , and recently Bahrain .

Several other human rights and political websites have been blocked in several Arab countries. This is b ecause they have covered violations perpetrated by governments or has criticized their policies. Such actions reveal the hypocrisy of Arab regimes with regards to the reason given for blocking. In the last few months, the Bahraini government blocked around 17 websites, included out own website at the Arab Network for Human Rights Information (hrinfo.net). This is a clear example of the lies told - claiming that the websites targeted are those that threaten values and that are anti-Islamic.

1-Saudi Watan Newspaper, 25 November 2006 , http://www.alwatan.com.sa/daily/2006-11- .25/economy/economy04.htm
2-A visit to some offices in the ministry of justice in Egypt and the ministry of information in Yemen by Gamal Eid, HRinfo Executive director
3-Interviews with a number of political and human rights activists who have been stopped at different Arab airports, in addition to a personal experience when the writer was stopped in one airpor t and banned form entering the government because working for human rights is a threat to national security
4-http://hrinfo.net/press/2006/pr0209...
5-http://www.aljazeera.net/NR/exeres/...
6-ibid

Tunisia

" Blocked websites are mostly anonymous websites used as a venue to slander and smear the reputation of private individuals, and often include threats from terrorist organisations " .

Oussama Romdhani Director General of the Tunisian External Communication Agency (ATCE)

Overview

Tunisia may appear on the surface as a modern country, living under the principles of liberalism and a free economy, a state that grants women many freedoms and rights that are not enjoyed by their counterparts in any other Arab state. In reality however, this is not the case. Tunisia , under the rule of Zine Al-Abidine Ben Ali who has been in rule since 1987, is strictly controlled by his ruling Democratic Constitutional Rally party.

Internet and Telecommunications Sector

Tunisia attempts to spread technology in a manner that will attract foreign investment. The government has issued a new communications law that aims to organise the communications sector and show its ‘openness’ to the private sector. It has also established a national communications authority and liberated the market to allow free competition (1).

The Tunisian government also made important initiatives to spread the digital culture. The most prominent was the launching of the presidential project for family computers in 2001. Forty two thousand computers had been sold by 2004 (2). All universities, scientific laboratories, secondary schools and primary schools are connected to the internet (3).

According to the July 2006 statistics of the Ministry of Communication Technology, the number of terrestrial lines owned by TuniCom reached 1.2 million, while mobile lines (owned by TuniCom and Tunisiana) reached 6.5 million. In 2005, 569,000 computers had been sold (4).

In its latest statistics, the Tunisian Agency for Internet - the agency providing internet in Tunisia - the number of internet subscribers has exceeded 109 thousand. The number of users reached 1.148 million.

There is a large difference between the number of internet users and websites browsed because Tunisian internet users prefer to use foreign email accounts to avoid government censorship.

The internet entered Tunisian in 1991, making it the first Arab and African country to be connected. However, the internet was became widely used in only from 1996, when the Tunisian Agency for Internet was established to administer and market internet services and technology (5). According to the government, all the country now has access to the Internet and it is possible to subscribe to its different services via 12 providers, these include 7 providers that provide to public institutions and agencies, and 5 private companies providing the service to the wider market (6). The Tunisian Agency for the Internet is the main provider, connecting all internet providing companies to the Internet. This means that the agency is able to monitor any exchange of information. In addition, two of the service provider companies are headed by relatives of the Tunisian president (7).

Internet services are provided using dial-up and DSL lines. There is a reduced prices for family subscriptions as part of a special program for companies and citizens. The family subscription to the DSL service at a speed of 256k is 25 Tunisian Dinars in addition to 20 Dinars for telephone expenses (1 Tunisian Dinar = 0.75 US dollar). Individual subscription per month is for 50 Dinars plus 20 Dinars for telephone expenses (8).

Communication and Internet Law

The government issued a number of laws to administer this new communications tool. Ministerial decrees were issued following each law to put a framework for internet service providers and internet cafés. Many of the articles in these laws restrict freedom of expression and the exchange of information.

Presidential decree 501, issued on 14 March 1997 , stated that the production, provision, distribution, and posting of information will be administered according to the press law 32/1975 and the law concerning literary and artistic copyright (9).

The decree also obliged providers to remind subscribers and service users to abide by the laws, while maintaining the right to the Minister of Communication to monitor internet use at any time and using any means (10).

Eight days after the Presidential decree was passed, the Minister of Communication issued a decree on 22 March 1997 to further regulate internet use. Service providers, according to the decree, must provide the Tunisian Agency for Internet with the names of subscribers at the beginning of each month (11). With regards to content, the decree put the responsibility on the manager of the provider companies. In addition, subscribers, web-owners will be held responsible for any violation of the current law (12). The manager is obliged to constantly monitor content. In this manner, the regulations make the manger censor content and information to avoid any being held responsibility by the state authorities.

In September 1997, a ministerial decree was issued to administer the use of coding on the web. Any provider wishing to receive or send coded information must first receive a license. Once the license is granted, the provider is not allowed to use codes for any purpose but those mentioned in the application. The minister of communication has the right to withdraw the license if ‘national security’ or ‘public order’ are thought to be threatened (13).

This decree was amended by ministerial decree 2727/2001. Conditions and regulations for coding were changed as a committee was formed. The committee includes officials from the Ministry of Interior in addition to those from the Ministry of Communication (14).

With regards to internet cafes, a ministerial decree was issued in 1998 describing conditions that cafés must meet. These included articles that the café owner or an assistant must be present at all times (15). The café owner must hang a clear sign stating users are responsible for any violation to the law which should be visible to all visitors (16).

The government also issued laws administering e-trade, such as law 83/2000 regarding electronic trade, and law 57/2000 regarding electronic documents and documentation (17).

In 2003, Tunisia issued a counter-terrorism law - a law described by human rights activists as highly restrictive of the basic rights of citizens and of the peaceful activities of civil society. The law is framed so that it can consider any opinion, image, symbol referring to a person, organisation, or a call for a protest or assembly, as sufficient to describe such an act as an act of terrorism. (18)

Censorship and Website Blocking

Human rights organisations strongly criticised the United Nations for choosing Tunisia to host the World Summit for Information Society (WSIS) on 16-18 November 2005. Tunisia has a terrible record for curtailing basic freedoms and freedom of expression. Kofi Annan, however, beleived that the selection of Tunisia would put it under the spot light and thus the government would have to revise its policies that violate human rights (19). However, oppressive policies continue. Several journalists were attacked and beaten and Robert Ménard head of Reporters Without Borders (RSF) was banned from ent ering the country (20).

Tunisian legislation upholds freedom of expression and basic rights as stated in the constitution (21). Furthermore, President Ben Ali claimed in his 2004 presidential campaign the right of the citizen to enjoy free communication services without censorship (22). In reality, however, communication a nd the internet are restricted and websites, especially opposition websites, are blocked and in many instances web-editors and writers are arrested and imprisoned.

A study presented to the WSIS stated that 10% of 2,000 websites tested by the researchers are blocked in Tunisia ; most of these are political, opposition, human rights, or pornographic websites (23). A report issued by the Tunisia Monitoring group in May 2006 confirmed that at least two websites are blocked ( www.hrinfo.net an d www.amisnet.org) However, Oussama Romdhani, Director General of the Tunisian External Communication Agency (ATCE) insisted " Blocked websites are mostly anonymous websites used as venue to slander and smear the reputation of private individuals, and often include threats from terrorist organisations " (24).

Neila Charchour Hachicha , founder of the Liberal Mediterranean party , insisted that her website was blocked after it posted a statement made by the 18th of October movement. The block was lifted when the US State Department issued a statement on the issue. However, the government later re-blocked the website (25).

Many activists who met with the TMG mission complained about the difficult they face in accessing the internet despite the fact that they have a DSL line. Members of the mission attempted to access the internet from the headquarters of Observatory for Freedom of Press, Publishing and Creation (OLPEC) and were unable to access any website. Rachid Khechana , editor in chief of Al-Maoukif newspaper and Neila Charchour Hachicha also complained that they cannot access the internet (26).

News websites are also blocked. The website alarabiya.net was blocked by authorities in Tunisia starting on 12 November 2005 . Following a decree that was issued banning any newspaper from mentioning the website’s name (27). The news website Al-Watan Voice was blocked in 2004 for unknown reasons (28). The most recent case was that of Misryoom, an Egyptian news website. The decision to block the website came three days after it posted a report about a stolen boat that was found to be with a member of the President’s family (29).

The Tunisian government does not admit the fact that it censors the internet and insists that it only blocks pornographic and terrorist websites. However, websites such as www.fdtl.org , www.nadha.net , and www.albadil.org , all political websites of opposition groups are blocked and remained so even during the WSIS (30).

The Tunisian activist, Sihem Bin Sedrine says that there are more than 400 employees at the Ministry of Communication whose work is to monitor internet users and the content they browse. They have full freedom to oppress freedom of information exchange and expression (31).

The first electronic political asylum

The last few years have witnessed an increasing in blogging. However, the Tunisian government was able to control this new phenomenon because the website that includes all blog addresses, http://tn-blogs.com , refuses to include any opposition blogs. These included the blog of Judge Mokhtar Yehyai, and that of the emigrant Sami Ben Gharbia (32). As result, Ben Gharbia, reque sted the first ever electronic political asylum when the blog www.manalaa.net , which carries all Egyptian blogs, decided to accepted his blog and publish it (33).

Ben Gharbia co-founded the first website for protests, www.yezzi.org , during the WSIS. The website allows all those who wish to protest the rule of Ben Ali to post a picture of the protester carrying a sign calling on the president to step down. The website was blocked only 18 hours after it was launched (34).

Posting information on the internet is very dangerous in Tunisia and often results in serious consequences as was the case with Naziha Rajiba, also known as Umm Zied, who posted an open letter in 2003 to the Minister of Education criticising the system of education in the country. She announced her resignation after 34 years of teaching. She was sentenced to one year suspended sentence after being accused of violating regulations of information exchange (35).

In light of these circumstances it was natural that Tunisia would host the conference of Arab Ministers of the Interior in January 2006. The conference welcomed the recommendation of the Egyptian Foreign Minister to block all websites supporting terrorism and inciting hatred. However, the group did not provide a clear definition of "terrorism". A vague definition ratified in 1988 was used. The definition is very vague and allows for violations of freedom of expression and the right to exchange information, which are basic rights systematically violated by Arab governments (36).

The Egyptian Minister of Interior recommended that unity of Arab efforts to push the Security Council to pass a resolution by which all large international companies are to block websites posting information on making and using weapons and bombs in addition to those that propagate fundamentalist ideas and ideologies (37).

Seventeen human rights organization criticized such attempts especially that the Egyptian and Tunisian governments are infamous for their animosity towards the internet (38).

An Eye for An Eye :

Tunisia is infamous for being the first Arab country standing against the freedom of internet. It is also the first country to resort to the internet to get back at those who have criticized the government’s oppression. The Tunisian government established websites defaming activists and attacking them. A Tunisian activist told the Arabic Network for Human Rights Information that the Tunisian Government and the Communications Authority, which is controlled by relatives of the Tunisian president, provides financial and information support to those websites so as to punish activists for their criticism (39).

Arrests

Tunisian authorities have restricted internet users and have arrested and imprisoned some. In all the cases, the court sentences were excessive and disproportionate even for the alleged ‘crime’. The defendants did not have all legal rights. The following list is of those who have been arrested for using the internet and posting material on it.

• Mohammed Abbou

Mohammed Abbou posted articles criticising the Tunisian government for inviting the Israeli Prime Minister, Ariel Sharon, to attend the WSIS. He also condemned the torture which takes place in Tunisian prisons. He was arrested and sentenced in April 2005 to 3 years and 6 months imprisonment after a trial that did not meet international standards of a fair trial. Currently, Abbou is imprisoned in the Kef prison, 200 km away from the Tunisian capital where his family reside. Authorities have repeatedly refused his lawyers permission to visit him.

- The Youths of Zarzis

Tunisian authorities arrested 8 youths in the city of Zarzis in the north of Tunisia . They were accused of terrorism. The only evidence was a group of files downloaded from the internet. Authorities accused the 8 Tunisians of having formed a terrorist group to terrorise the public, holding meetings without a license, theft, and preparation of explosives. On 16 April 2004 , the court sentenced 6 of the youth to 19 years of imprisonment. A seventh defendant was sentenced to 26 years of imprisonment as he was accused of being the leader of the group, while the eighth defendant, who was under age, was sentenced to 25 months imprisonment. Following appeals the sentences were reduce.

A presidential pardon on 27 February 2006 resulted in the release of six of the youth of Zarzis. However, they continue to face harassment.

In a similar case, authorities arrested 13 youths in February 2003 near the Tunisian capital. In June 2004 they were indicted of being members of a terrorist group. Evidence was that files had been downloaded from the internet. On 27 February 2006 , three were released.

• Ali Ramzi Bettibi

On 15 March 2005 authorities arrested Ali Ramzi Bettibi while he was in an internet café. He was sentenced to 4 years imprisonment for re-publishing articles published by terrorist groups. The article promised to shed blood if Sharon attends the WSIS in Tunisia . Even though human rights organisations condemn incitement to violence, the right to freedom of expression is integral, especially since Bettibi was not the author.

Bettibi was treated violently and his books and CDs were confiscated from his home even though there was no court order to do take these items.

Internet Cafés

Since October 1988 internet cafés have existed in Tunisia . Currently there are some 300 cafés. The state supported the first 100 cafés set up in Tunisia by lending 50% of the investment and enabling the café owner to return the money in instalments over a period of 2 years.

Browsing the internet in internet cafés is much more difficult than from private homes despite the fact that internet cafés provide the service using ADSL. The Tunisian Agency for the Internet makes it difficult for café owners to get a license. In addition, owners must present a list of those who have used the internet in their café on a monthly basis. Even though it is not a requirement for internet cafes to register users, owners are responsible for the content browsed in their cafés. This has created a situation when café owners play the role of a censor, occasionally banning users from entering or asking them to leave. For example in Sfakes, owners insist that users hand in their identity cards. This information is then sent to the security bureaus. When a user is described as an opponent, they are banned from entering the café. In Tunis , the capital, authorities directly blocks access when it sees it as necessary.


1-Ministry of Communication Technology, http://www.infocom.tn/index.php?id=206
2-Ibid
3-Tunisian Agency for Internet, Important Numbers, http://ati.tn/Defaulter.htm
4-Ministry of Communication Technology, http://www.infocom.tn/index.php?id=5
5-Tunisian Agency for Internet, The History of Internet in Tunisia , http://www.ati.nat.tn/ar/internet/h... .
6-Ministry of Communication Technology, ibid.
7-Gamal Eid, The Internet in the Arab World : A New Space for Repression, the Arabic Network for Human Rights Information, pp. 29
8-Price list of Global Net, http://www.gnet.tn/html/redaction/a...
9-www.infocom.tn/fileadmin/Doc...
10-Ibid
11-http://www.infocom.tn/fileadmin/Doc...
12-Ibid
13-http://www.infocom.tn/fileadmin/Doc...
14-The Tunisian Agency for Internet, Legal framework, http://www.ati.nat.tn/ar/cadre-juridique
http://www.ati.nat.tn/ar/cadre-juridique
15-ibid
16-Ibid 17-Ibid 18-Tunisia : Censored Media, The Arab Organisation for Freedom of Press, http://www.apfw.org/indexarabic.asp... 19-http://www.asharqalawsat.com/detail... 20-ibid 21-Tunisian Constitution, http://www.chambredesdeputes.tn/a_c... 22-http://www.benali2004.tn/news/proce... 23-http://news.moffed.com/wmview.php?A... 24-http://www.hrinfo.net/ifex/wsis/06/... 25-Ibid 26-Ibid 27-http://www.alarabiya.net/Articles/2... 28-http://www.alwatanvoice.com/arabic/... 29-http://www.almesryoon.com/ShowDetai... 30-http://www.alarabiya.net/Articles/2... 31-http://www.wsisarabicnews.org/news/... 32-http://web.amnesty.org/library/Inde... 33-http://www.hrinfo.net/press/2006/pr... 34- http://web.amnesty.org/library/Inde... 35-http://web.amnesty.org/library/Inde... 36-http://www.hrinfo.net/press/2006/pr... 37-Ahmed Moussa, The Tunisian President Calls for the Activation of ..., Al-Ahram Newspaper, 31 January 2006 . 38-http://www.hrinfo.net/press/2006/pr... 39-An interview with a Tunisian Activist on 14 May 2006 . HRinfo chose not to publicize these websites for the defamator y content they provide.

(Source : The second report of the Arabic Network for Human Rights Information (HRinfo) on the freedom to use the internet in the Arab World, published the 13th of December 2006)

Lien : http://www.openarab.net/en/reports/...



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