In Tunisia, journalist Zied el-Heni was arrested after comments made on a private radio station. This journalist, who has distinguished himself on numerous occasions in his criticism of the power in place, whether under former President Ben Ali, after the revolution or today under President Kaïs Saïed, is used to arrests. But this illustrates the repression against the press since the tightening of the regime in Tunis.
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With our correspondent In Tunis, Amira Souilem
Return to prison for Zied el-Heni. The journalist does not hold his tongue in his pocket and does not hide his opposition to regime of President Kaïs Saïedwhose fall he insists he wants: he has once again attracted the wrath of justice.
Just hours after criticizing the supposed inaction of the Minister of Commerce, whom he described as “ kazi ” (either ” guignole », in Tunisian Arabic) on air, the journalist was taken into police custody and spent the night in detention.
Already last June, he was arrested for 48 hours for having criticized an article of law condemning the offense against the head of state.
These arrests take place while Tunisia adopted a decree in 2022 “ 54 » which punishes the diffusion of “ fake news ” and that facilitated legal proceedings against journalists or dissident public figures.
Since taking the full powers by President Kaïs Saïed in 2021, Tunisia lost 48 places in the press freedom rankings of the NGO Reporters Without Borders (RSF), going from 73rd place to 121st out of 180 countries.