Journalists call for release of imprisoned colleagues

Several dozen Tunisian journalists protested on Monday in Tunis against the "repression" of freedoms in the country and called for the release of two commentators they say were convicted for their opinions.

Chanting slogans such as "Freedom for Tunisian press," "The police state is a thing of the past," and "Judiciary under orders," about 60 demonstrators gathered outside the headquarters of the National Union of Tunisian Journalists (SNJT).

The protestors, including relatives of the imprisoned journalists, held up signs reading: "No to media liquidation," "Journalism is not a crime," and "No free and professional press under threat and intimidation."

This "day of solidarity" was organized after the sentencing last Wednesday of two well-known journalists to one year in prison for social media posts and statements in the media about the country's socio-economic situation and President Kais Saied, who orchestrated a power grab in the summer of 2021. 

Borhan Bssais, a TV and radio presenter, and Mourad Zeghidi, a political commentator, were arrested on May 11 and found guilty of spreading "false information" and "defaming others or harming their reputation." Their lawyers have appealed, their families told AFP on Monday.

Controversial Decree 54

They were convicted under Decree 54, issued in 2022 by President Saied, ostensibly to combat "fake news" but criticized for its broad interpretation. 

"Freedoms are starting to lose their value in Tunisia, and all the colleagues prosecuted are prisoners of conscience," said SNJT president Zied Dabbar before the rally. Demanding their release, he called for an end to the "instrumentalization of Decree 54" and the "repression of freedoms."