Tunisian journalists behind bars reflect growing repression of media freedom
Tunisians have been concerned about the return of oppression and restriction on media freedoms following renewed military trials of civilians, arrests and attacks on journalists.
TUNIS — The National Syndicate of Tunisian Journalists confirmed in a statement Oct. 6 its absolute rejection of military trials of civilians, journalists and activists based on their positions, views and publications. This comes against the background of a heightened arrest campaign of journalists and activists, most of whom oppose President Kais Saied who ousted the government and suspended parliament with help from the army on July 25.
The syndicate warned against the return to freedom restrictions, and considered these trials a setback for freedom of expression and a blow to democracy and the right to disagree.
On Oct. 5, the Tunisian judiciary sentenced four people to prison, including a female journalist, on charges of spying and harming state security through social media pages, raising the anger of rights organizations that fear the return of tyranny.
The case of the four people has become known in the media as the “Instalingo case,” named after a Tunisian digital content production company accused of launching those social media pages.
