SOJ Africa

Tunisian court imprisons journalist for insulting public official, his lawyer says

In Tunis, a court decision on Wednesday saw the sentencing of Mohamed Boughalleb, a prominent journalist known for his outspoken criticism of President Kais Saied, to six months in prison for allegedly insulting a public official, as confirmed by his legal representative to Reuters.

Jamal Eddine Boughalleb, Mohamed’s brother, condemned the verdict, describing it as a grave setback for both judicial independence and press freedom. He emphasized that it sends a chilling message to journalists: either self-censor or risk imprisonment.

Boughalleb’s recent detention, as highlighted by the journalists union, appears to be part of a broader pattern aimed at stifling dissenting voices within the media landscape. His incarceration further fuels concerns among activists that civil liberties are being eroded in the lead-up to anticipated presidential elections later this year.

President Saied’s consolidation of power, which began in 2021 with the dissolution of parliament and subsequent assumption of judicial control, has triggered apprehension among various segments of society. Despite Tunisia’s reputation for having one of the most open media environments in the Arab world since the 2011 revolution, there is growing apprehension that press freedoms are under serious threat under Saied’s leadership.

The president, elected in 2019, has consistently denied accusations of authoritarianism, asserting his commitment to democratic principles. Nevertheless, the imprisonment of additional journalists like Shatha Al-Hajj Mubarak and Lotfi Al-Hidouri, alongside ongoing judicial scrutiny of others for social media activity or critical reporting, underscores the precarious state of media freedom in the country

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