Tunisia: Court Quashes Verdict Ordering the Filtering of Pornography · Global Voices
Afef Abrougui

This post is part of our special coverage Tunisia Revolution.
Today, the Cassation Court of Tunis (highest court of appeal) threw out a verdict to censor pornography on the Internet. On May, 26, 2011, a court of first instance issued a ruling ordering the Tunisian Internet Agency (ATI), to filter X rated websites. On August, 15, 2011, the ruling was affirmed by the court of appeal.
The judicial decision ordering the filtering of pornography, was harshly criticized by bloggers, and free speech advocates, who believe that such step could limit freedom of speech, and thus pave the way for the return of censorship.
Today's verdict was welcomed by netizens, supporting an absolute net freedom.
Outside the Tunisian Internet Agency (ATI) in Tunis, Tunisia by Jillian C. York
Reporters Without Reporters Tunisia office, was the first to report the court's ruling:
#ATI – la cour de cassation casse le jugement et renvoie le procès en appel.
The news quickly spread, and reactions via the micro blogging website, Twitter started pouring in. Here is a selection of reactions:
@RODE86: Ya7ya el 3adl! Ya7ya el 3adl!
@HBHassine: je suis heureuse qu on reconnaisse enfin que les Tunisiens sont adultes et responsables! #contrelinfantilisationdesTunisiens #ATI
@yassine95140: La bonne nouvelle, qu'on soit pour ou contre la décision de la cour, c qu'on a la preuve d'1 séparation réelle d pouvoirs. #ATI #TNAC #TNGOV
Others have aired more suspicious and careful views.
@El_7oss: Ces connards de la cassation pouvaient aussi casser le jugement sans renvoyer en appel #ATI
@Selim_: bien. Mais c pas fini
@omessaoud: Le renvoi de l'affaire #ATI en appel à nouveau est un renvoi de responsabilité pas une victoire. #free404 #tunisie #censure
This post is part of our special coverage Tunisia Revolution.