Tunisia: journalist critical of President Saied placed in police custody
In Tunisia, a new journalist is the subject of legal proceedings. Mohamed Boughalleb, who operates on CAP FM radio, is not his first encounter with the Tunisian justice system. His arrest comes against a backdrop of growing tensions in the country.
(Illustration) Tunisian journalists gathered in Tunis for a demonstration for press freedom, February 16, 2023. AP - Hassene Dridi
By: RFI Follow
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With our correspondent in Tunis
,
Amira Souilem
He was one of the last critical voices in the country. Mohamed Boughalleb spent his third night in detention on Sunday. Placed in police custody on Friday, his detention period was then extended by 48 hours. It follows a complaint filed by an official from the Ministry of Religious Affairs who accuses him of defamation, according to statements by his lawyers.
Mohamed Boughalleb – known to Tunisians for his banter – was surprised by the large number of trips abroad that this civil servant made. Accustomed to court summons, the journalist is above all a critic of the
Kaïs Saïed
regime . The national union of Tunisian journalists has expressed its support and concern over the increase in prosecutions against journalists.
This arrest comes during a week marked by anger in
Tunisia
, where lawyers also expressed their refusal of the interference of political power in justice and by the anger of doctors also afterwards, that one of the lost his life after being placed in preventive detention on suspicion of drug trafficking.
A week of anger like Tunisia, which seemed plunged into a period of political apathy, has not experienced for a long time, and which comes as a presidential election is due to be held next fall.
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