Tunisia Upholds Prison Sentences Against Jailed Journalists

A Tunisian appeals court has upheld prison sentences against several jailed journalists and media figures, according to reports, in a move that has intensified concerns over press freedom and freedom of expression in the North African country.

The ruling is the latest in a series of legal actions targeting journalists, commentators, and critics of the government amid growing political tensions in Tunisia.

Media rights organisations and opposition groups have condemned the decision, arguing that authorities are increasingly using the judicial system to silence dissenting voices and independent reporting.

The journalists involved were accused of offences linked to public statements, criticism of state institutions, and alleged violations of laws governing online communication and national security. Supporters of the accused insist the cases are politically motivated and aimed at intimidating the media.

The convictions come as Tunisia faces mounting international scrutiny over democratic backsliding and restrictions on civil liberties under President Kais Saied.

Since taking sweeping executive powers in 2021, Saied has defended his actions as necessary to restore stability and fight corruption. Critics, however, accuse his administration of weakening democratic institutions and targeting opponents, activists, lawyers, and journalists.

Press freedom organisations say the media environment in Tunisia has deteriorated sharply in recent years, with increasing arrests, prosecutions, and pressure on independent journalists.

Human rights advocates have called on Tunisian authorities to protect freedom of expression and ensure journalists are able to work without fear of prosecution or imprisonment.

The Tunisian government has rejected accusations of political repression, insisting that all legal proceedings are conducted within the framework of the law and judicial independence.

The latest court ruling is expected to further fuel debate over the state of democracy and media freedoms in Tunisia, once widely regarded as one of the Arab world’s most promising democratic transitions following the 2011 revolution.