Tunisia court rejects provisional release of two journalists

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Tunis: On Tuesday, a Tunisian court denied the provisional release of prominent journalists Mourad Zeghidi and Borhen Bsaies during their appeal trial. Although the court rejected the request for their release, it agreed to postpone the trial proceedings until May 12. 

The two men were originally sentenced in January to three and a half years in prison on charges of tax evasion and money laundering.

The journalists were first detained in May 2024 following public statements on social media and television that were critical of President Kais Saied's administration. 

While they were initially scheduled for release in January 2025, they remained in custody due to the subsequent financial charges. Reporters Without Borders (RSF) has condemned the situation as ‘judicial harassment,’ arguing that journalists should not face prosecution for their professional work.

This legal battle occurs amidst a broader crackdown on dissent in Tunisia since President Saied's 2021 power grab. Human rights organizations have noted a significant regression in freedoms, with dozens of critics currently imprisoned. 

The recent hearing drew international attention, with diplomats from the United Nations, the United Kingdom, and Belgium in attendance at the courthouse.