Prominent journalist Mohamed Boughalleb was ordered into pre-trial detention after a court hearing on Tuesday. This comes just days after his arrest for allegedly insulting a public official on social media.
Boughalleb, a frequent critic of President Kais Saied, faces trial next month with the potential for a two to four-year prison sentence.
Boughalleb’s detention follows his announcement about upcoming reports exposing corruption and misuse of public funds by ministers and government institutions. This revelation is believed to be the reason behind the initial arrest on social media charges.
Concerns Over Free Speech and Government Crackdown
Boughalleb’s case has ignited concerns about freedom of speech in Tunisia, particularly in the run-up to the upcoming presidential election. His arrest is seen as another example of the government’s use of a controversial 2022 law (Decree 54) to silence critics. Human Rights Watch and journalist unions condemn the growing trend of using this law to target journalists and opposition figures.
Journalists Union Denounces Routine Targeting
Zied Dabbar, president of Tunisia’s National Journalist Syndicate, criticized the ongoing persecution of journalists. He highlighted the absurdity of expecting journalists to remain silent about potential corruption, especially when it involves public funds.
Trial Looms as Election Nears
Boughalleb’s trial is scheduled for next month, preceding President Saied’s expected re-election campaign. Saied, initially elected in 2019 on an anti-corruption platform, has taken a series of controversial steps, including weakening judicial independence and consolidating his own power. These actions have fueled concerns about a potential crackdown on dissent.
