New York, September 24, 2026—The Committee to Protect Journalists on Thursday demanded that Tunisian authorities hold accountable those responsible for
detaining
and allegedly
mistreating
three local journalists from the independent news website
Nawaat
.
“Tunisian security forces’ alleged use of deception to lure journalists into detention, attempts to access their phones without a judicial warrant, and threats against them for speaking about their treatment are deeply alarming, and demand an immediate investigation,” said CPJ Regional Director Sara Qudah. “Tunisian authorities must stop obstructing journalists’ work and ensure that reporters and photographers can work freely without fear of detention or intimidation.”
The incident took place on
September 21
, when a female photojournalist with Nawaat received a call from an individual claiming to be a courier, who insisted she collect a delivery. To feel safer, she brought two male colleagues along with her, a reporter and a photojournalist. All three journalists requested that their identities remain hidden, citing fear of reprisal.
The details of the encounter were shared with CPJ by a local journalist who is following the case, and spoke on condition of anonymity for fear of reprisal.
When the three journalists arrived at the location, plainclothes security officers surrounded them, forced them into a vehicle, and took them to the National Guard’s central unit in El-Aouina neighborhood, Tunis, according to CPJ’s source, and a
statement
by the National Syndicate of Tunisian Journalists (SNJT). Authorities held the journalists for almost two hours, during which time they were subjected to “abusive language and humiliation by some of the personnel,”
according to the SNJT
.
During the detention, officers verbally abused and degraded the female photojournalist, and interrogated her about her coverage of the September 19 march in support of
detained Sumud Flotilla activists
. According to the s
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