Front Line is concerned following information received regarding the arrest, on 27 January 2009, of journalist Mr Dhafer Otay, coordinator of Radio Kalima, and the harassment of other human rights defenders and journalists, including Mr Mohamed Abbou, secretary of the Conseil National pour les Libertés en Tunisie – CNLT (National Council for Liberties in Tunisia), Mr Zouhayr Makhlouf, secretary-general of Liberté et Equité, and journalist Mr Slim Boukhdir.

Further Information

“Front Line is calling on the Tunisian authorities to “Remove the police presence from the offices of Radio Kalima and CNLT, and allow staff access to these offices” , said Andrea Rocca Front Line's Protection Coordinator for the Middle East in Dublin today.

Latest developments in this situation are that the police have this morning (Friday 30 January) raided the premises of Radio Kalima, cut the telephone lines and seized the equipment of the station.

On 27 January 2009, at approximately 2 p.m., Dhafer Otay was taken away by police officers outside the premises of Radio Kalima. After having participated in a daily editing meeting, he had left the building with his colleague, Ms Marwa Rekik, for a break. On returning, approximately 30 plain-clothes policemen were surrounding the building and prohibiting anyone from entering.

Several policemen blocked Dhafer Otay's path. Marwa Rekik was also prevented from entering the building and saw the civil police take Dhafer Otay away with them. At approximately 8 p.m., Dhafer Otay was released. However, he was threatened that he would be imprisoned if he went back into the offices of Radio Kalima.

The policemen surrounding the Radio Kalima offices have in turn kept other members of Radio Kalima inside the building. During the previous days, journalists from Radio Kalima, particularly Dhafer Otay, had been receiving threats from police while carrying out media coverage, and the internet connection of the organisation had been suspended every second day.

“Dhafer Otay has been arrested because of exercising his professional right to freedom of expression as a journalist”, said Rocca.

On 28 January 2009, the number of police officers outside Radio Kalima's offices has increased and Mohamed Abbou and Slim Boukhdir have not been allowed to enter CNLT offices, located in the same building. When Zouhayr Makhlouf came to express his solidarity with Radio Kalima he was reportedly hit violently by police.

Since 27 January 2009, Radio Kalima, which previously broadcast via internet, has broadcast via satellite. The management of Radio Kalima believe that the arrest of Dhafer Otay may be linked to the organisation's decision to broadcast via satellite. Front Line believes that Dhafer Otay and Radio Kalima have been targeted because of their legitimate and peaceful work in the defence of human rights. Front Line believes that this forms part of an ongoing pattern of harassment against Radio Kalima and its members, as well as other human rights organisations in Tunisia.

For Further Information contact Jim Loughran, Head of Communications, Front Line Tel 00 353 1 212 3750 – Mobile 00 353 87 9377586 – email jimloughran@frontlinedefenders.org

THE FOLLOWING CONTACTS IN RADIO KALIMA ARE AVAILABLE

FOR INTERVIEW IN: English French or Arabic Omar Mestiri Editor in Chief Radio Kalima;For more details please call Omar +21698245386 or the team there: +21671254673 or + 216 98245386

or

Sihem Bensedrine: +436767574556