Minister of Culture, Hayet Ketat Guermazi, reaffirmed on Monday the attachment of her ministry "to the principles of freedom of thought, expression and publishing enshrined in the Constitution."

The minister was speaking during her visit to the Tunis International Book Fair (FILT) at the Kram exhibition centre in Tunis, according to a ministry statement.

Guermazi inquired about the progress of the fair and met members of the organising committee. The evolution of the situation of the first two days of the fair was examined, it said.

The Minister "expressed her support for the organising committee and her concern to ensure its independence in the exercise of its functions, in compliance with the laws and regulations in force, with a view to making this event of national and international importance a success."

On the opening day of the Fair, one booth was closed and a new Tunisian book was withdrawn. The other exhibitors decided to close their stands in protest. On the second day, other books by Tunisian authors were also withdrawn.

The withdrawal of the books was followed by a controversy, with mixed reactions from book and publishing professionals and the official party.

Opinions are largely divided between those who cry censorship and the official version, which cites the Fair's rules, prohibiting any publication that has not been notified in advance to the organising committee.

Source: Agence Tunis Afrique Presse