Constitutional, legal and political framework
Freedom of opinion and expression in Tunisia is guaranteed by the Constitution. Since November 7, 1987, legal initiatives were undertaken to further promote pluralism in the media and safeguard the rights of journalists. The Press Code was amended in 1988, 1993 and 2001. Recent amendments removed prison sentences from the books and eliminated the charge of "defaming public order". The administrative measure of legal submission of copies for all published material ( depot legal ), was abolished in 2005. Legally, no newspaper can be suspended without a court decision. Since November 1987, not a newspaper or magazine was in fact suspended. Since then, also, no journalist was detained for media-related activities .
Tunisian law prohibits hate speech, expressions of bigotry and all forms of incitement to terrorist violence.
The Tunisian head of state, President Zine El Abidine Ben Ali, has consistently encouraged journalists to be more enterprising. He has called on the media "to be more daring" and to make sure that "issues are addressed impartially, boldly and responsibly."
