A court in Tunisia has sentenced jailed independent journalist Zied el-Heni to four more years in prison on terrorism-related charges. El-Heni, a vocal critic of President Kais Saied, was given a year in jail in May over remarks he made about press freedom. His lawyer said the charges include claims he had formed a terrorist organisation and failed to report a terrorist offence. The case relates to his request to verify leaked audio recordings attributed to politician Mondher Lounissi.
El-Heni had refused to hand over his mobile phone to the authorities in the absence of a warrant, in order to protect his sources. His lawyer said it remained unclear what the recordings contained. Lounissi was sentenced to nine years in prison in the same case. The journalist's case has sparked international condemnation, with journalism organisations describing the ruling as an escalation of Tunisia's assault on the Press.
Dozens of Saied's critics are currently behind bars, and many of Ennahdha's members have been jailed or have fled the country since Saied staged a sweeping power grab in 2021. El-Heni's sentencing has raised concerns about the state of press freedom in Tunisia. The country has seen a significant increase in press censorship and arrests of journalists critical of the government.
The Africanews news organisation reported that the Associated Press holds copyright for the image used in the article. The image shows people protesting against the policies of President Kais Saied in Tunis, Tunisia, on 17 October 2026. The protests highlight the ongoing tensions between the government and its critics.
International journalism organisations have condemned the ruling, describing it as an escalation of Tunisia's assault on the Press. The organisations have expressed concerns about the impact of the sentencing on press freedom in the country. They have called for the release of El-Heni and other journalists jailed for their work.
The case has also raised concerns about the use of terrorism charges to silence critics. El-Heni's lawyer said the charges against him were unfounded and that he had done nothing to warrant such a sentence. The journalist's case has sparked a heated debate about the state of democracy and human rights in Tunisia.
In related news, 10 environmental activists were recently jailed in Tunisia for their involvement in anti-pollution protests in Gabes. The country has seen a significant increase in environmental activism in recent years, with many Tunisians calling for greater action to address pollution and climate change.
Key points
- The sentencing of Zied el-Heni has sparked international condemnation and raised concerns about the state of press freedom in Tunisia.
- Dozens of President Kais Saied's critics are currently behind bars, and many of Ennahdha's members have been jailed or have fled the country since Saied's power grab in 2021.
- The case has raised concerns about the use of terrorism charges to silence critics and the impact on democracy and human rights in Tunisia.
