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Forty-two journalists have been attacked inÌýÌýsince the start of 2022, as fears for media workers in the increasingly autocratic state increase.

January 30 attacks on journalists with 12 recorded violence incidentsÌýinÌýFebruary.

The Ìýtargeted in the attacks were working onÌýpolitical, , and anti-corruption stories, coinciding with increasing moves to authoritarianism in the North African country.Ìý Most of the media workers injured in January were coveringÌý.

The National Syndicate of Tunisian Journalists (SNJT) reported that the journalists were victims of various forms of violence, including verbal and physical assaults, provocations, and threats.

Public offials were reportedly behind two-thirds of the incidents in February, whileÌýpolice officers were responsible for some of the reported assaults.

February’s attacks were concentrated mostly in , while others were recorded in the towns of Nabeul, Kasserine, Siliana and El-Kef.

The SNJT urged the government to endÌýauthoritarian practices against journalists, and for media institutions to publicly condemn attacks on journalists and reportÌýanyÌýincidents to the syndicate.

Tunisia was the catalyst for the Arab Spring with democracy introduced in 2011.

The country was seen as the freest in the Arab world, until President Kais Saied launched a power grab in July 2021, suspending parliament and scacking the prime minister.

Tunisia has since been criticised for the stifling ofÌýpress freedomÌýbyÌýÌýand others.

Authorities in October shut down , which was said to be close to the Islamist-inspired Ennahda opposition party.

In January this year, Tunisia state television Ìýrepresentatives of political parties from appearing on talk shows.