Fahem Boukadous Reporting – Image courtesy of Dublin City University Journalism Society

TUNIS, Tunisia –Fahem Boukadous, a television journalist for the Tunisian station Al-Hiwar al-Tunisi, was sentenced to four years in jail for reporting information which the government claims threatened public order. He was also convicted on charges that he belonged to a criminal organization. These charges were brought against Boukadous after he reported on violent labor protests caused by high unemployment rates, high costs of living, and corruption in Tunisia’s Gafsa mining region in 2008.

Boukadous, who has been hospitalized with severe asthma, was tried in absentia. Tunisian authorities reportedly tried to pressure hospital staff to release him so that he could be present for his trial.

He is the third Tunisian journalist to be sentenced to prison in less than ten months. The two other journalists imprisoned, Zouhair Makhlouf and Taoufik Ben Brik, were sentenced to three and six months in jail respectively.

The Tunisian government is considered to be relatively progressive on a variety of other social issues, such as women’s rights. However, the government still retains strict control over the media and maintains a strong police presence in the nation.

The lobbying group, Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ), has condemned the court’s decision, and has stated that Boukadous was being punished for “reporting the news.”  Additionally, CPJ’s Deputy Director Robert Mahoney called on “Tunisian authorities [to] halt their constant harassment of independent and critical journalists.”

Because of Boukadous’ health, he has been allowed to remain in the hospital pending the result of his appeal. The court, however, has refused to delay the appeal despite a doctor’s certificate explaining his respiratory problems and hospitalization.

Mohamed Abbou, his lawyer, said he feared that Boukadous could be arrested and taken from the hospital “at any moment.”

For more information, please see:

Associated Press – Court upholds sentence for Tunisian Journalist – 7 July 2010

BBC News – Tunisia to jail sick journalist Fahem Boukadous – 7 July 2010

CPJ – CPJ condemns prison term against Tunisian TV journalist – 6 July 2010