The Tunisian presidency fired the head of the national television channel on Wednesday after two guests were briefly banned from entering their studios to take part in a program.
The dismissal of Wataniya’s CEO comes after President Kais Saied interrupted parliament and fired the prime minister on Sunday, in what opponents have noticed a coup.
On Monday, Qatari broadcaster Al Jazeera said police had forced the closure of its Tunis office, adding fears that civil liberties and press freedom are at stake in the new democracy.
The dismissal of Wataniya’s president Lassaad Dahech came hours after a journalists’ union representative and an activist were blocked from entering the channel’s office on Wednesday.
Amira Mohamed, vice president of the SNJT union, said she was stopped at the entrance by a security agent who was waiting for permission from the channel’s management to let her in.
Human rights activist Bassem Trifi, who was also stopped from entering, said he had been told it was not Wataniya’s decision.
“The CEO of Wataniya told me that he had been instructed by a military official not to allow guests to enter the television studios,” he said.
But the defense ministry and the president’s office said they had not given any such instructions.
A few hours later, a statement from the president’s office said that Saied had issued a decree releasing Dahech from his responsibilities and instructing Awatef Dali to temporarily take over the role.
Saied has said that his suspension of parliament and subsequent measures are justified under the constitution, allowing the head of state to take unspecified exceptional measures in the event of an “imminent threat”.
He has insisted that he will protect civil liberties.
On Wednesday, he also issued decrees dismissing a long list of senior government officials, including the army’s chief prosecutor.
(AFP)
.
