Sami Fehri

Sami Fehri (Arabic: سامي الفهري‎, born in Tunisia, on November 7, 1971)[1] is a Tunisian entrepreneur, producer and director. He is also the founder of the private Tunisian channel “Ettounsiya TV”[2] and the general director of the private production Company Cactus Production.[3]

Sami Fehri
سامي الفهري
Sami Fehri on the January 2013 cover of Tunivisions.
Born (1971-11-07) 7 November 1971
La Marsa, Tunisia
NationalityTunisian
OccupationTelevision producer, Television presenter, Film director

Career

Sami Fehri started his career in the media industry during the 1990s while he worked as a radio host at RTCI.[1][4]

Sami Fehri launched Cactus Productions -a private production company- in partnership with Belhassen Trabelsi the brother in law of the former Tunisian President Zine El Abidine Ben Ali.[5][6] Cactus productions amassed large amounts of commercial receipts during that time.[7]

Through Cactus productions, Fehri produced several TV shows such as “Dlilek Mlak” the Tunisian adaptation of “Deal or no Deal” along with drama series such as Awled Moufida.[8][9][10]

Fehri created his own channel known as Ettounsiya TV in March 2011, after the Tunisian Revolution.[11][12]

Controversy and prosecution

During the Tunisian revolution, Sami Fehri hosted a talk show in which he supported the “new freedom” granted by the former Tunisian president Zine El Abidine Ben Ali. In this talk show, Fehri displayed scenes of jubilation in the symbolic Bourguiba Avenue where manifestations against the old regime occurred.[13]

In 2012, Fehri faced corruption charges[1] and was arrested upon allegations of “the illicit use of the Tunisian Television Establishment's resources".[14] "I will go to prison with dignity," said Sami Fahri, during his interview with Express FM.[15] His lawyers claimed their client was unfairly prosecuted for the broadcast of “The Political Logic”, a satirical show that mocked Tunisian power figures, such as President Moncef Marzouki, leader of the Islamic Party Ennahda, Rached Ghanouchi and prime minister Hamadi Jebali. The programme was later taken off air.[16][17]

The National Union of Tunisian Journalists (The SNJT) issued a statement, in which they condemned the imprisonment of Sami Fehri, and accused authorities of "serious intervention of the government in media affairs."[18]

In 2013, Fehri was released after spending one year in prison but remained on trial for two different cases. One of these cases concerns his involvement with Belhassen Trabelsi.[12][19]

Personal life

He is married to Asma Ben Jemaii, the CEO of El Hiwar Ettounsi.[20]

References
  1. "Tunisia Live". www.tunisia-live.net. 2011.
  2. "Tunisian TV channel owner jailed". Reuters. 2012. Retrieved 2017-07-27.
  3. "Tunisia: SNJT Criticises Issuance of Detention Order Against Sami Fehri". Tunis Afrique Presse (Tunis). 2012-08-27. Retrieved 2017-07-27.
  4. "Business News". businessnews.com.tn. 2015.
  5. Gana, Nouri (2013-09-30). The Making of the Tunisian Revolution: Contexts, Architects, Prospects. Edinburgh University Press. ISBN 9780748691050.
  6. "Tunisia media accuses govt of clampdown - Egypt Independent". Egypt Independent. 2012-08-31. Retrieved 2017-07-27.
  7. "Arrest warrant issued for Tunisian TV director - Committee to Protect Journalists". cpj.org. Retrieved 2017-07-27.
  8. "Awled Amreeka?". Retrieved 2017-07-27.
  9. "Awled Moufida". Retrieved 2017-07-27.
  10. "Sami Fehri : Awled Moufida est le dernier scénario que j'écris". MosaiqueFM (in French). Retrieved 2017-07-27.
  11. "Legal row over release of jailed Tunisia TV chief". ModernGhana.com. Retrieved 2017-07-27.
  12. "Tunisian TV boss freed after a year in prison: AFP". The Daily Star Newspaper - Lebanon. 2013-09-11. Retrieved 2017-07-27.
  13. Tunisia, HuffPost (2016-01-15). "Five Years On, Tunisians Share Memories From The Jasmine Revolution". Huffington Post. Retrieved 2017-07-27.
  14. "Tunisia: RWB - Detention Warrant Against Sami Fehri, Before Expert Report, is 'Cause of Surprise'". Tunis Afrique Presse (Tunis). 2012-08-29. Retrieved 2017-07-27.
  15. "Tunisian TV boss decries arrest warrant - France 24". France 24. 2012-08-25. Retrieved 2017-07-27.
  16. "Tunisian TV boss decries arrest warrant - France 24". France 24. 2012-08-25. Retrieved 2017-07-27.
  17. "Tunisia TV head 'will go to prison with dignity' in satire row". english.alarabiya.net. 2012.
  18. "Arrest warrant issued for Tunisian TV director - Committee to Protect Journalists". cpj.org. Retrieved 2017-07-27.
  19. "Tunisia TV boss on trial for corruption". Fox News. 2013-07-12. Retrieved 2017-07-27.
  20. "Individual Owners". Media Ownership Monitor. Retrieved 2017-07-27.
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