Tunisian authorities sentence two prominent journalists to three-year prison terms

Tunisian Court Hands Down New Prison Terms to Journalists

A Tunisian court has sentenced two radio journalists, Bohran Bssaies and Mourad Zghidi, to three and a half years in prison on charges of “money laundering”. The conviction is part of a growing list of cases against opposition figures, journalists, and other perceived critics of President Kais Saied.

Bssaies and Zghidi were first jailed in May 2024 on charges of “spreading false news” under Tunisia’s Decree Law 54. They were later brought up on additional tax-related charges by the judiciary. The journalists’ defense claims that the charges are based on routine tax matters.

Reporters Without Borders (RSF) has described the case as “legal persecution”. The organization has urged Tunisian authorities to release Bssaies and Zghidi immediately. RSF’s North Africa director, Oussama Bouagila, stated that journalists being put behind bars for their work threatens the public’s right to information.

The case follows the arrest of Ahmed Nejib Chebbi in December, who was sentenced to 12 years for plotting against the state. Several opposition figures were also sentenced to lengthy prison terms in a separate “conspiracy case”. In recent months, Tunisian courts have ordered the release of several high-profile detainees, including lawyer Sonia Dahmani and journalist Chatha Belhaj Mubarak.

Tunisia’s World Press Freedom Index ranking has been declining since 2025. The country fell 11 places to 129th out of 180 countries in the index.

Source: Al Jazeera