Radio Kalima

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Radio Kalima ( Arabic راديو كلمة, DMG Rādiyū Kalima  'Radio Wort') is a private radio broadcaster from Tunisia , whose program is broadcast on VHF in the greater Tunis area, by satellite and as a live stream over the Internet. The station was founded in 2008 and tried to establish critical and independent reporting in Tunisia.

Critical underground radio

Under the authoritarian Tunisian government of Zine el-Abidine Ben Ali , the radio was exposed to severe repression, so the reporting took place mainly from the underground. An application for a broadcast license for VHF for legalization was never granted by Ben Ali's regime. In the media landscape during the extensive censorship efforts under Ben Ali , Radio Kalima stands out because it reported independently and critically.

After the station could also be received via the HotBird satellite from January 26, 2009 , the broadcast studio in Tunis was tracked down and closed shortly thereafter. One journalist was arrested and many of the other editors were forced to leave the radio. The journalist, human rights activist and co-founder Sihem Bensedrine went into exile. From France , the radio was able to continue to operate as an Internet radio. But even in Tunisia, journalists continued to try to research political topics and topics not addressed by other Tunisian media.

Tunisian Revolution 2010/2011

Two journalists from the station were arrested during the Tunisian Revolution . Nissar Ben Hassen was arrested after videos of demonstrations were released. Gafsa radio correspondent Moez Jemai was arrested and ill-treated after reporting from Sidi Bouzid at the start of the riots .

After Sihem Bensedrine's return to Tunis in January 2011, another application was made for a transmission license, which was granted on June 29, 2011 on the 90.7 MHz frequency. The station is now operated from a studio in Tunis, the facility of which was provided by France Inter and is still managed by editor-in-chief Omar Mestiri. About 20 employees are involved in the production of the program.

Distribution channels

In the greater Tunis area, Radio Kalima broadcasts on VHF and the program is constantly streamed online.

The station can also be received via satellite on Hot Bird 13 ° East on the frequency 11.411 H (SR 27500, FEC 5/6) in Europe.

Web links

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ a b www.businessnews.com.tn: Radio Kalima de Sihem Ben Sedrine, captée dans le Grand Tunis. February 26, 2012, accessed February 26, 2014 (French).
  2. ↑ www.infosat.de: Hot Bird 13 ° East: Radio Kalima Tunisia changes frequency. March 15, 2010, accessed February 26, 2014 .
  3. ↑ Reporters Without Borders : Censorship continues. January 11, 2011, accessed February 1, 2012 .