NAD is forced to announce that, as a result of a serious incident at our most recent debate in Tunis, we are having to suspend our operations in Tunisia.
Some 15 minutes after the start of the programme recording on May 29, two plain-clothed policemen, identifying themselves as officers of the local Medina force, entered the vestibule of the debate venue at the Institut de Patrimoine and demanded the names of those who were attending the debate.
A junior Tunisian staff member was told that it was a matter of “orders from superiors” and the list was taken from her. Another staff member succeeded in tearing off the list of email addresses and telephone numbers as the police left the area.
The New Arab Debates team regards this worrying act with the utmost concern. We have protested to the Tunisian Interior Ministry and told them that we regard this as an attack on our independence and interference in our right to pursue a free speech project in a newly democratic country.
We will also carry out an internal investigation and all operations will remain suspended in Tunisia until we can guarantee the security of our data.
Our operations in Egypt are continuing and the next debates will be in Cairo on June 25th and June 26th.
Tim Sebastian, Chairman, New Arab Debates