Tunisia arrests journalist amid crackdown on government critics

Tunisia faces disapproval arsenic prosecutions of journalists proceed nether President Kais Saied’s rule.

Tunisian constabulary person arrested salient writer Mohamed Yousfi, a vocal professional of President Kais Saied’s rule, the caput of the National Syndicate of Tunisian Journalists told Reuters.

According to section journalists, constabulary said that Yousfi, the editor-in-chief of the investigative quality website Al-Qatiba, was brought successful connected Friday for questioning. The absorption of the probe is unknown.

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Tunisian authorities person not yet commented connected the arrest, which is the latest successful a drawstring of prosecutions of media figures and activists successful Tunisia this year.

Khaoula Boukrim, laminitis of the quality website TUMEDIA, who fled to France past year, was sentenced successful June to 4 years successful absentia.

Prominent writer Zied el-Heni was sentenced successful May to 1 twelvemonth successful prison, portion broadcaster Mourad Zeghidi and governmental commentator Borhen Bsaies were sentenced successful January to 3 and a fractional years.

Rights groups person warned of a widening crackdown connected autarkic voices successful Tunisia nether Saied, whose regularisation has dismantled antiauthoritarian safeguards, enabling authorities to prosecute journalists and critics much aggressively.

On Thursday, Tunisia’s Court of Cassation upheld a wide trial against 40 figures, including absorption leaders, lawyers and quality rights defenders convicted of conspiring to overthrow Saied.

“The ruling confirms that the judiciary is not independent,” said Haifa Chebbi, a lawyer whose father, absorption person Najib Chebbi, was among those sentenced to 12 years.

Tunisia’s Minister of Justice Leila Jaffel said the defendants sought to destabilise the country.