Fahem Boukadous, a reporter for the independent Tunisian television station 'Al-Hiwar Attounsi' is wanted by the authorities on charges of "belonging to a criminal association" for his coverage of protests earlier this year in the Gafsa mining region and because he put foreign news media in contact with labour leaders in the region.

Scores of bloggers and Facebook users in Tunisia have banded together to push for a national day to defend the freedom of expression. A number of bloggers initiated the group "November 4th: A National Day for the Freedom of Expression" on Facebook. The group is now leading a campaign to promote the idea.

The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) has published a harsh new report on the condition of press freedoms in Tunisia. The study, released September 23rd on the group's website, found that press freedom in the country is in bad shape.

Tunisian blogger and journalist Ziad El Heni has filed a legal action against the Tunisian Internet Agency (ATI), seeking damages sustained as a result of censorship. This is the first case of its kind against ATI since its creation in 1996 to manage the national internet backbone and provide internet services.

Under a new law in Tunisia, prisons are required to provide separate facilities for pregnant or nursing inmates. The new law also reduces the length of time a child can stay with their incarcerated mother from three years to one.

The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) has welcomed the release of Tunisian journalist and human rights activist Slim Boukhdir. Boukhdir, who has been the frequent target of harassment by Tunisian authorities, on Monday was released early from a one-year prison sentence.

Hundreds, possibly thousands, of people, including children, suspected of terrorism-related offences, have been arrested in Tunisia since the introduction of the Anti-Terrorism Law in 2003. Authorities use the broad definition of ‘terrorism’ in this law to criminalize legitimate and peaceful opposition activities.

Tunisian journalist and press freedom advocate Sihem Bensedrine and husband Omar Mestiri were allegedly assaulted by police early this month when entering Tunisia from Europe. The government denies the claims, but human rights groups are persisting in their accusations.

In a decision welcomed by Tunisian researchers and novelists, the Ministry of Culture announced that several works previously banned by the Censorship Department will be freed for publication. The Arab Institute for Human Rights (AIHR) confirmed on Monday (February 18th) that Tunisia would lift the ban on books which have been held in a legal limbo for years.

In a rare interview with local media, Progressive Democratic Party Secretary-General Maya Jribi announced her intentions to participate in Tunisia's 2009 presidential and legislative elections. The interview, published Monday (January 21st) in Le Temps, surprised many readers with its boldness. It circulated quickly over the Internet, as it is rare that local newspapers give the PDP the opportunity to express its positions on domestic affairs.

The last remaining customs barriers between Tunisia and the EU were lifted when the Free Trade Zone Agreement became effective January 1st, but Tunisian opinion remains mixed over the measure. Noting that Tunisia is the first south Mediterranean country to establish a free trade zone with the EU, Businessmen's Association Secretary-General Hedi Jilani said the country has entered into a new stage "full of challenges and rich in promises and ambitions".

Slim Boukhdir, a jailed Tunisian journalist has again gone on a hunger strike in protest against deplorable prison conditions. Boukhdir, who is serving a year's prison sentence at Sfax, 231 km South of the capital Tunis, started the strike on 13 December. Slim's wife who visited him told the Paris-based Reporters sans frontières (RSF) that her husband is kept in an unlit cell with common prisoners purposely to allow prison authorities to monitor him as well as prevent him from resuming his reading.

Claiming they lost their contracts for political reasons, three Tunisian secondary school teachers launched a hunger strike five weeks ago to compel the education ministry to restore their jobs. Attention to their protest has mounted, along with concern about their deteriorating health.

A Sfax district court sentenced Tunisian journalist and blogger Slim Boukhdhir, known for his harsh criticism of President Zine El Abidine Ben Ali, to one year in prison on Tuesday (December 4th). The ruling drew a mixed reaction, with some journalists denouncing the court's decision and others saying they should not become involved in the matter.

The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) has condemned as “intolerable and vindictive” the sentence handed down to Tunisian journalist Slim Boukhdir on charges stemming from a search by police on the group taxi he was riding in. It is the latest targeted attack on Boukhdir who has been frequently harassed by Tunisian authorities says the IFJ.

The 17th annual Arab Institute for Human Rights (AIHR) training course for human rights defenders in the Arab region came to a close Monday (July 30th) in the Tunisian city of Hammamet. Salhi Oussama, President of the Algerian League for Legal Thought, said, "I learned a lot during this course, which enabled us to become thoroughly familiar with human rights mechanisms and offered us the legal means with which we can confront our opponents in this field."

Tunisia's Ministry of Development revealed recently that the poverty rate in the country has fallen to 3.8%, compared to 4.2% in 2005. The Ministry report specifies that 376,000 people are living beneath the poverty threshold in Tunisia. During a press conference, Mohamed Nouri Jouini, Minister of Development and International Co-operation, said the National Census Institute used new methods to determine the poverty figures.

Tunisian bloggers were angered recently by police intimidation of independent magazine Kalima starting May 17th, raising questions once again about the lack of press freedom in the country. In his post, "Kalima Tunisie: libérez la parole," Tunisian blogger Cos-Maux-Polis joined the World Association of Newspapers in its condemnation of "the intimidation and repression of the independent press in Tunisia".

Between 30 and 60 plain-clothed policemen have over the past two weeks surrounded the offices of 'Kalima', an online newspaper that is the only independent media based in Tunisia. 'Kalima' journalists have thus been prevented from working and updating their news site, which for years has been inaccessible for Tunisian readers.

One week after the Association of Tunisian Journalists (AJT) released a report calling for increased access for all media to the nation’s news sources, the Ministry of Communications responded by promising improvements in the media sector.