Al Jazeera’s article, titled “In Tunisia, Refugees and Migrants Are Expelled to the Desert,” published on September 12, 2024, highlights the human rights crisis surrounding the expulsion of refugees and migrants to the desert regions in Tunisia.
Summary of the Article
The article primarily focuses on the plight of sub-Saharan migrants and refugees who, after arriving in Tunisia, are forcibly removed and abandoned in the desert without food, water, or shelter. Al Jazeera draws attention to the conditions of these migrants and the humanitarian concerns surrounding their treatment by Tunisian authorities.
Key Claims
- Claim 1: Expulsion of Migrants and Refugees to the Desert
- Verification: Various human rights organizations, including Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch, have reported similar incidents of refugees being expelled to inhospitable desert regions bordering Libya and Algeria. Independent reports corroborate the dangerous circumstances, confirming that large numbers of migrants face severe hardships.
- Conclusion: This claim appears to be accurate, supported by multiple sources.
- Claim 2: Lack of Basic Necessities
- Verification: The article’s assertion that migrants are abandoned without access to food, water, or medical care is consistent with statements from humanitarian NGOs and interviews with migrants on the ground. Reports from the Red Crescent and Doctors Without Borders also confirm the dire conditions.
- Conclusion: This claim is well-supported by third-party evidence.
- Claim 3: Tunisia’s Increased Crackdown
- Verification: The crackdown on migrants in Tunisia intensified after President Kais Saied’s controversial remarks earlier in 2024, where he linked sub-Saharan migration to broader societal instability. The government’s policies since then have been scrutinized by international organizations, aligning with Al Jazeera’s narrative of a systematic expulsion.
- Conclusion: This claim is factual, matching documented events and statements by the Tunisian government.
Framing:
Al Jazeera uses several framing techniques to evoke a sympathetic response from the readers:
- Emotional Framing: The article emphasizes the suffering of migrants, utilizing emotive language like “left helpless” and “abandoned.” The detailed descriptions of desert conditions—scorching heat, lack of shelter—are designed to create an emotional connection and portray the migrants as victims of state violence.
- Victim-Perpetrator Dichotomy: Tunisian authorities are framed as the sole aggressors, and the article doesn’t provide significant perspectives from Tunisian officials or explore any governmental justification. The focus on the humanitarian crisis without equally balancing official narratives suggests a victim-perpetrator dynamic.
- Selective Omission: The article omits any discussion of broader migration trends in North Africa, focusing narrowly on Tunisia’s treatment of refugees. The lack of regional context, such as similar issues in neighboring countries like Libya, may skew readers’ perceptions by isolating Tunisia as uniquely responsible for the crisis.
Propaganda:
While Al Jazeera is known for its strong editorial voice on human rights issues, certain techniques used in the article could be seen as propagandistic:
- Bandwagon Appeal: The article references international bodies like the UN and Amnesty International, portraying Tunisia’s actions as universally condemned. This broad appeal to authority reinforces the narrative that Tunisia is violating global norms.
- Appeal to Pity: The descriptions of suffering individuals in harsh conditions serve to elicit sympathy, which can be seen as a persuasive tactic to encourage a particular viewpoint. The focus is predominantly on victim testimonies rather than hard data or policy analysis.
- Agenda Setting: Al Jazeera has a known editorial stance, often emphasizing issues surrounding refugees and human rights violations, especially in the Arab world. This article aligns with that agenda, subtly pushing readers to adopt a humanitarian perspective critical of the Tunisian government.
Missing Context
- Lack of Tunisian Perspective: There is little representation of Tunisia’s point of view, making the article one-sided. While the allegations against Tunisia’s treatment of migrants are severe, without quoting government officials or exploring the nation’s migration challenges, the article appears to promote a particular narrative.
- Geopolitical Context: The regional migration crisis involves not only Tunisia but also Libya and Algeria, where similar expulsions have occurred. Without mentioning these factors, the article paints an incomplete picture of the complex migration dynamics in North Africa.
The Al Jazeera article on the expulsion of migrants in Tunisia contains verifiable information, supported by international organizations and eyewitness accounts. However, it frames the narrative in a way that focuses predominantly on the suffering of the migrants, without providing sufficient counterbalance from Tunisian authorities or regional migration trends. While the humanitarian crisis is real, the article’s emotional appeal, selective use of facts, and lack of broader context suggest a form of agenda-driven journalism, with propaganda-like elements in its framing.
