Tunisian journalists and activists show their opposition to the draft law on the sector

Journalists and press freedom activists took to the streets in Tunisia to protest a proposed law that would remove the requirement for radio and television stations to have official licenses.

The moderate Islamist party Ennahda and media mogul Nabil Karoui, whose own unlicensed television station Nessma played a major role in the campaign for the presidency last year, are supporters of the bill, as reflected in the digital media Middle East.

However, some 300 demonstrators at Tuesday's protest said relaxing licensing rules for media channels risks giving powerful outside interests the power to interfere with Tunisia's democracy.

The parliamentary group of the Democratic Current decided to present a legislative initiative related to the draft law of the audiovisual sector.

The announcement was made this past day by the party's secretary general, Ghazi Chaouachi, specifying that his group will present the same bill in parliament as that presented by the previous government of Elyes Fakhfakh.

"This government (of Fakhfakh) has consulted the professionals of the sector, the journalists' union, on the draft law concerning the audiovisual law," said Chaouachi. On 7 July, a council of ministers approved this preliminary draft organic law on freedom of audiovisual communication aimed at organising the sector, as well as the prerogatives of the independent constitutional body.

"This proposed amendment poses a real threat to democracy and to the press sector," said Mehdi Jlassi, president of the journalists' labour union. "Canceling the licenses will open the door to corrupt money, politicians and perhaps extremists to control the sector," he said.

Supporters of the bill, which will be discussed by Parliament on Tuesday, say it will allow the sector to grow and help establish more news channels and create more jobs.

Four organisations are calling on Parliament to reject the draft amendment to Legislative Decree 116 proposed by the Al-Karama Coalition.

The organizations Yo miro, Mourakiboun, Jeunesse Sans Frontières (JSF) and the Tunisian Mediterranean Centre (TUMED) called on the Assembly of People's Representatives to respect the constitution and not to vote in favour of the draft amendment to Legislative Decree No. 116 on audiovisual communication.

Prime Minister Hichem Mechichi said last week that he supported any initiative to liberalise the media sector, while ensuring its independence.

The protesters also oppose a provision in the draft law that would allow a simple parliamentary majority to appoint members of the media regulator instead of the two-thirds majority now required.