Since the enactment of Decree 54 by President Kais Saied on September 13, 2022, designed to combat what the government deems "false information," there has been a notable increase in legal actions against journalists and public figures in Tunisia.
This ongoing situation raises critical questions about the balance between national security and freedom of expression © Mena Today
Since the enactment of Decree 54 by President Kais Saied on September 13, 2022, designed to combat what the government deems "false information," there has been a notable increase in legal actions against journalists and public figures in Tunisia.
This legislation, which can impose a prison sentence of up to five years for those who use communication networks to "write, produce, disseminate or spread false news" that harms others' rights or public safety, has been criticized widely for undermining freedom of expression and promoting self-censorship among media professionals.
Over the past eighteen months, more than 60 individuals including journalists, lawyers, and opponents of Mr. Saied have been prosecuted under this decree.
Freedom of expression was a major achievement of the 2011 Revolution that overthrew dictator Zine El Abidine Ben Ali. However, since President Saied's coup in July 2021, which granted him sweeping powers, several NGOs and opposition members have expressed concerns about the regression in rights and freedoms.
According to Human Rights Watch, the Tunisian government is using this decree to suppress and intimidate a wide range of critics.
This ongoing situation raises critical questions about the balance between national security and freedom of expression, a cornerstone of any democratic society.
The Sudanese army has conditioned any broad acceptance of a U.S. proposal for ending the country's three-year-old civil war on the full withdrawal by the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces from cities it has occupied, according to documents seen by Reuters.
In the year since the Sudanese army recaptured the capital Khartoum from a paramilitary force that had seized it at the outset of civil war in 2023, more than 2 million of the 5 million people who fled their homes in the city have returned.
Morocco's counterterrorism agency said on Monday it had foiled attack plots targeting sensitive sites and public security by a cell loyal to Islamic State's affiliate in the Sahel.
To make this website run properly and to improve your experience, we use cookies. For more detailed information, please check our Cookie Policy.
Necessary cookies enable core functionality. The website cannot function properly without these cookies, and can only be disabled by changing your browser preferences.