The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) today said the release of Tunisian journalist Fahem Boukadous is a momentous victory for the campaign waged by journalists for their independence and freedom under the banner of the Syndicat national des journalistes tunisiens (SNJT), an IFJ affiliate.

"We are relieved that his ordeal is over and he will be able to receive the medical treatment he badly needs," said Aidan White, IFJ General Secretary. "His and colleagues' fight for a free press has been an inspiration in standing up to a brutal regime in Tunisia."

According to the Tunisia Monitoring Group (TMG), a coalition of 20 IFEX members from the Middle East, Africa, Europe and North America, Boukadous, who was released on 19 January, said "My feelings of joy are indescribable. Despite repression and life in prison and underground over the past years, I never stopped believing that the Tunisian people would finally turn a new page of democratic rule."

The news of Boukadous' release came two days after the IFJ wrote to Tunisian Prime Minister Mohammed Ghannouchi, urging him to release the journalist who is suffering from severe asthma.

The journalist who worked for the satellite channel ‘Tunisian Dialogue' was sentenced to four years a year ago and his conviction was upheld by a Court of Appeal last July. He was prosecuted following his reporting of public demonstrations against unemployment and corruption in the mining town of Gafsa in 2008. All his co-accused who allegedly had taken part in the protests have been released.

"We are delighted that our colleague is free and his life out of danger," added White.  "We wish him speedy recovery so that he can resume his career."

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The IFJ represents more than 600.000 members in 125 countries