 |
              
|
From the IFEX-TMG Report of April 2007: In past reports of the IFEX-TMG we observed blocking of the distribution of books and publications. We recommended to the Tunisian government to release banned books, end censorship, and conform to international standards for freedom of expression. At the time of this latest report we have witnessed no significant change and no progress on our recommendation. We therefore maintain these recommendations and specifically we recommend to amend Article 8 of the Press Code by lifting the obligation (for the printer) to deposit copies of a printed book with the local prosecutor’s office, the Ministry of the Interior and the chamber of deputies. The dépôt légal system is still shamelessly used as a hidden form of censorship of books in Tunisia. In a country that prides itself on producing 1,400 titles a year for a population of just over ten million, there are actually only 200-300 new titles produced per year; the rest are mainly reprints and children’s books. Publishers which dare to publish books the authorities disapprove of not only see these books being blocked at the printer’s (after having been printed), but also have to face other forms of harassment, including forms of fiscal harassment. For more, see the first IFEX-TMG report. Three books by Professor Abdeljelil Temimi, founder of the Temimi Foundation (FTRSI), have been printed and then blocked through the legal submission procedure: his book on censorship has been banned since 2000, and his books on President Habib Bourguiba and on the society of knowledge since 2003. The national library of Tunisia provides no reason, nor answer for these bans. In addition, the distribution of the proceedings of four conferences on censorship organised by FTRSI are also blocked through the legal submission procedure. As a consequence, the publication of these proceedings takes place in another country of the region. (See: http://www.tn.refer.org/hebergement/temimi/) In addition, the distribution of the proceedings of four conferences on censorship organised by FTRSI are also blocked through the legal submission procedure. As a consequence, the publication of these proceedings may take place in another country of the region. According to the League of Free Writers (LEL), the situation for book publishing in the country has worsened since WSIS in 2005. Three examples of recent book blocking were given: a. Portrait of a businessman who succeeded by Mr. Hamdouni, Vice-President of LEL. Initially, an authorisation to publish the novel was issued in November 2006. A few days later, a group of plainclothes policemen stormed the printer’s in order to seize the books, which had been printed, and to seize the receipt authorising the publication. According to LEL, this was the first time this had happened. b. The Rocking Chair by Amel Mokhtar, a young Tunisian female writer. The second novel by this author is denied publication and distribution through the legal submission procedure. The content of this book is deemed to be too morally controversial. Her first and third novels are freely available. c. Justice by Falilah Chebbi, a famous Tunisian poet who has published some 20 books. In Justice, she condemns Arab regimes for spending too much money on armaments, and not enough on social welfare. The book has been blocked at the printer’s since spring 2006. In addition, three of Jalloul Azzouna’s books are still blocked through the legal submission procedure. Hafidha Chekir, a member of the Board of the Tunisian Association of Democratic Women (ATFD), tried to have her PhD on the role of law in the promotion of women’s rights published by the University Press (a text for which she received the Human Rights Prize of the French Society of International Law), but this was refused. She tried to self-publish later, but the book was blocked through the legal submission procedure. Her guide on the participation of women in political life is also blocked through the legal submission procedure. It is one of the ten blocked books by the Arabic Institute of Human Rights. The proceedings of ATFD’s November 1993 seminar on violence against women are still blocked through the legal submission procedure. OLPEC, which issues reports and alerts whenever it finds out a book is being blocked through the legal submission procedure, issued a report on the 2006 Tunis Book Fair. The Tunisian authorities issued a list of banned books in anticipation of the fair. (For more, please see below.) Theatre - Khamsoun Khamsoun (corps otage), which translates as Fifty, is a play by the famous Tunisian playwright Fadhel Jaibi. The Tunisian authorities first refused to issue a permission to show the play. However, after successfully being performed abroad, including a performance in Paris, the authorities found no alternative but to allow it to be performed. This came after six months of prohibition by the commission of censorship of the Ministry of the Culture, which had drawn up a list of phrases to be censored. However, those involved in Khamsoun had refused to subject the play to this list. The play addresses the problems facing Tunisian society after 50 years of independence, including torture in prisons, fundamentalism and lack of civil and political freedoms. The play itself became the target of such lack of freedoms as a result of heavy censorship. The authorities attended the rehearsals of the play and censored all names of prisons, all dates and many Quranic verses used in the play. After months of negotiations, even though the director refused to comply, the authorities decided to allow the play to run, but only during the week. The play is not allowed to be performed during the weekend, and there were few performances in Tunisia in February 2007. --------------------------------------------------------------------- LIST OF BANNED BOOKS – 2006 TUNIS BOOK FAIR Source: OLPEC Books confiscated from the 2006 Tunis book fair:
Books examined and allowed:
Forbidden Books and Writers in Tunis Book Fair: Books:
|