Tunisia: Respect Freedom of Expression, Drop Charges against Journalist

Tunisia, despite being hailed as a beacon of hope during the Arab Spring for its successful transition to democracy, has continued to exhibit concerning signs of disrespect for freedom of expression in recent years.

Development Diaries reports that the government will on 10 January prosecute prominent independent journalist Zied el-Heni, who has been arbitrarily detained since 28 December, 2023, for ‘insulting’ a Tunisian government minister on a radio show.

It is understood that El-Heni was summoned by the police shortly after he criticised the minister of commerce’s performance on a radio programme.

The same day, the General Prosecutor of the Tunis Court of First Instance ordered his detention under Article 24 of Decree Law 54, a harsh cybercrime decree-law that gives the government broad authority to suppress free speech.

Once again, someone gets punished by the Tunisian authorities for criticising government officials, demonstrating their terrifying contempt for the right to free speech.

The government’s actions and policies have continued to raise concerns about the erosion of fundamental rights. One notable example is the use of restrictive laws to stifle dissent and silence critical voices.

Authorities have targeted journalists, activists, and bloggers, employing legal measures to curb their ability to express dissenting opinions or report on issues of public concern.

Such tactics not only undermine the principles of a democratic society but also create a chilling effect on the media landscape, inhibiting open discourse and debate.

Development Diaries calls on the Tunisian government to unconditionally release El-Heni and drop all charges against him since his charges are based only on the exercise of his rights.

We also call on the government to respect the provisions of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (CCPR), which it ratified in March 1969.

Photo source: AFP

Facebook
Twitter
LinkedIn
WhatsApp

About the Author