US EditionTunisia Sentences Two Prominent Journalists to 3-1/2 Years in Prison
The sentences mark a continuation of government actions against dissent, with Tunisia dropping 11 places in the 2025 World Press Freedom Index, rights groups say.
- On Jan 22, the Criminal Chamber of the Tunis Court of First Instance sentenced Mourad Zeghidi and Borhen Bsaies to 3-1/2 years each for money laundering and tax evasion.
- Having been jailed since 2024, the journalists Borhen Bsaies, IFM radio journalist/columnist, and Mourad Zeghidi, IFM radio journalist/columnist, were due for release in January 2025 but remained detained as tax-related charges followed their eight-month sentence for spreading false news under Decree Law 54 on cybercrime.
- Rights groups and relatives described the sentences as `legal persecution`, and Maryem Zghidi said the family was `shocked`, calling the charges baseless and retaliatory as the families plan to appeal.
- The ruling contributes to a broader pattern of prosecutions that adds to cases against opposition figures and journalists since President Kais Saied expanded powers, while Tunisia fell 11 places in RSF's World Press Freedom Index, threatening public information rights.
- Since President Kais Saied's consolidation of powers on 25 July 2021, local and international NGOs say rights and freedoms in Tunisia have regressed, following December's arrest of opposition figure Ahmed Nejib Chebbi.
14 Articles
14 Articles
François Delorimier-Vallières pleaded guilty to 16 counts of sexual assault during therapeutic massages and 9 counts of voyeurism.
In May 2024, Bohran Bssais and Murad Zgidi were jailed for the first time on charges of allegedly spreading false news and insulting the president.
The two famous radio columnists, already in detention for almost two years for statements deemed critical of the power of Kais Saïed, remained in prison for a case of "money laundering" and "tax evasion".
Two Tunisia journalists handed over three years in prison
Two prominent Tunisian columnists were sentenced on Thursday to three and a half years in prison each for money laundering and tax evasion, according to a relative and local media. The two men, Mourad Zeghidi and Borhen Bsaies, have already been in detention for almost two years for statements considered critical of President Kais Saied's government, made on radio, television programmes and social media. They were due to be released in January 2…
The Star Kuala Lumpur
Tunisia sentences two prominent journalists to three and a half years in prison, state news says
TUNIS, Jan 22 (Reuters) - A Tunisian court sentenced two prominent journalists, Bohran Bssaies and Mourad Zghidi, to three and a half years in prison on Thursday, TAP state news quoted a judicial official as saying. Read full story
Coverage Details
Bias Distribution
- 60% of the sources lean Left
Factuality
To view factuality data please Upgrade to Premium
