Police officers closed the office of the Qatari Al-Jazeera television station in Tunis on Monday (July 26th), after expelling all the journalists present there, its director Lotfi Hajji told AFP.
This closure comes the day after Tunisian President Kais Saied announced the freezing of Parliament's activities for 30 days and the dismissal of head of government Hichem Mechichi.
Read also: Covid 19: Tunisia facing an unprecedented wave
"
About fifteen police officers, some in uniform and others in civilian clothes, entered our office and asked us to leave it,
" Lotfi Hajji told AFP. According to him, no explanation or judicial decision has been provided. "'
We are carrying out the instructions
'
, said only these agents
." All the journalists left Al-Jazeera headquarters and the keys to the office were confiscated, according to the director.
“
What is happening is very dangerous, it is proof that the freedom of the press is threatened.
Today it's Al-Jazeera, another day another media!
Lotfi Hajji warned.
According to him, police officers remained in the hallway of Al-Jazeera's office while others controlled the surroundings of the building.
Contacted by AFP, the Ministry of the Interior was not able to give an explanation on this subject.
Read also: Tunisia: clashes in front of Parliament after the suspension of its work by President Saied
Since the fall in 2011 of the regime of Zine el-Abidine Ben Ali, Tunisia has enjoyed significant press freedom, considered one of the successes of the revolution. Qatar is considered close to the Ennahdha movement, the main party in parliament, led by chamber speaker Rached Ghannouchi.
