LONDON: The arrest of Tunisian journalist Mohammed Boughaleb is the latest attack on press freedom in the North African country, Media watchdog the Committee to Protect Journalists said as it called for his immediate release.
“Tunisian authorities’ arrest and prosecution of journalist Mohammed Boughaleb is a clear example of how President Kais Saied’s government is determined to target local journalists and undermine freedom of the press,” the CPJ’s program director, Carlos Martinez de la Serna, said on Wednesday.
He urged authorities to “immediately and unconditionally release Boughaleb, drop all charges against him, and ensure that all journalists can work freely without fear of detention.”
Boughaleb, who works with local independent media network Carthage Plus and radio station Cap FM, was detained by Tunisian authorities on March 22 on charges of “defaming others on social media” and “attributing false news to a state official without proof.”
An unidentified member of staff at the Ministry of Religious Affairs had filed a defamation complaint against him, related to social media posts and statements Boughaleb made on television and radio about ministry policies and international visits.
During an initial court hearing, a state prosecutor ordered that Boughaleb be detained for 48 hours. On March 26, he was transferred to Mornaguia prison, 20 kilometers west of Tunis. On Wednesday, a court in Tunis postponed the next hearing in the case until April 17.
If convicted of defamation, Boughaleb could be sentenced to up to two years in prison and a fine of 120 dinars ($38) fine. Falsely attributing news to a government official carries a penalty of between one and two years in prison and a fine of between 100 and 1,000 dinars.
