Tunisian journalists demand the release of their arrested colleagues

Several dozen journalists demonstrated Monday in Tunis against what they call the “repression” of freedoms and demanded the release of two convicted colleagues, noted an AFP journalist.

Around sixty demonstrators chanted “Freedom of the Tunisian press”, “The police state is a thing of the past” and “Justice is under orders” in front of the headquarters of the National Union of Journalists (SNJT).

The day of solidarity was organized after two renowned journalists were sentenced Wednesday to a year in prison for social media and information publications on the socio-economic situation of Tunisia and on the President. Kaïs Saïedwhich took vast powers in 2021.

The demonstrators, among whom were relatives of the imprisoned journalists, held signs reading “No to the liquidation of the media”, “Journalism is not a crime” and “There is no press free and professional threatened and intimidated”.

Broadcaster Borhan Bssais and political commentator Mourad Zeghidi were arrested on May 11 and found guilty of spreading “false information” and “defaming others or damaging their reputation.”

Their lawyers are appealing this decision, the journalists' families told AFP.

Bssais and Zeghidi were convicted under Decree 54, promulgated in 2022 by Saied officially in the name of the fight against “fake news”, but widely criticized for its broad interpretation.

“Freedoms are starting to lose their value in Tunisia and the colleagues being prosecuted are prisoners of conscience,” declared the president of the SNJT, Zied Dabbar, before the demonstration.

Calling for the release of Bssais and Zeghidi, he demanded an end to the “instrumentalization of decree 54” and the “repression of freedoms”.

A dozen lawyers, journalists and civil society activists have been arrested under Decree 54 and other laws in recent weeks, sparking “concern” from international NGOs, the European Union, states -United and France.

Over the past year and a half, more than 60 critical voices have been prosecuted under Executive Order 54.

Meeting with the justice minister on Friday, Saied said Tunisia's constitution guarantees freedom of expression.

“No one has yet been prosecuted for their opinions,” he said.

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