In a move drawing sharp criticism from free speech advocates, a Tunis court fined the Nessma TV head for showing "Persepolis".
A Tunis district court Thursday (May 3rd) convicted Nessma TV director Nabil Karoui for undermining morality and public order for airing the controversial film "Persepolis".
The court ordered Karoui to pay a 2,400 dinar (1,300 euros) fine for broadcasting the movie, which includes an animated depiction of God.
Chokri Belaid, one of the defence lawyers for Nessma TV, criticised the verdict, saying "it represents real disappointment because it's not based on any legal grounds".
"There is no law condemning what the channel did," he told Magharebia, adding that "the defence will appeal the verdict in the next days."
"On World Press Freedom Day, we were waiting for a verdict that would enhance the targeted freedom of expression, which is assaulted every day," he added. "Unfortunately, violations against this freedom became even more profound after the revolution."
In her turn, rights activist Moufida Belghith told Magharebia that "regardless of the value of this fine, it's still a conviction of the channel, and therefore, an attack on freedom of expression in Tunisia."
The court found two others guilty of participating in the crime: Nadia Jamal, head of Soat Wa Sura organisation which dubbed the movie into Tunisian dialect, and Alhadi Boughanim, responsible for monitoring programs in Nessma TV. They were fined 1,200 dinars each.
However, the court dismissed the charge of deliberately attempting to undermine religious beliefs via a media outlet, and also dismissed civil legal claims as far and bound claimants to pay expenses.
The case dates back to October 11th, 2011 when the public prosecution in Tunis ordered an investigation after the channel aired the Iranian animated film dubbed in Tunisian dialect.
The film angered many Tunisians, especially Islamists, who staged protests condemning the airing of film. A large number of Islamist lawyers then filed a complaint against Nessma TV and its director, Nabil Karoui.
Assabah journalist Aymen Zameli said Nessma had the right to air the film. "This is freedom of media and media plurality which gives viewers, and recipients in general, the right to choose whatever media outlets they want watch and to see the media content that suits them," he said.
However, he said political entities also had the right to protest what the channel aired as part of the same freedom of expression, so long as that pressure did not infringe on the private station's editorial policy.
"We could have seen a harsher verdict, but, as we have earlier noted, the issue has apparently been more political than related to freedom of expression," commented journalist Saleh Souissi.
He added: "Many of the fanatics and zealots are still demanding to stone the channel owner and to close it under the pretext of blaspheming against God."
"I'm not defending Nessma TV or any other media outlet," Souissi noted. "Rather, I'm now faced with a new form of repression, domination and the imposition of unilateral opinion, but this time with a religious cover mastered by its proponents."
"Today, we're faced with one choice only; to build a new Tunisia by all means, politically, socially, religiously, culturally, and economically," he concluded. "This requires greater openness to all political and religious trends and without involvement in intolerance, zealotry, narrow-mindedness or insistence on a unilateral opinion or trend."
Mourad, a protestor opposite the court who wanted Nessma TV to be punished, told Magharebia that the he wanted to shut down the network because, in his words, it "has become an enemy to Islam and Muslims by airing a film depicting God".
But citizen Imen Bhar saw things differently. "It's shameful that the freedom of expression be tried and convicted on the day of freedom of expression," Bhar said.
© Magharebia.com 2012
