Journalists Imprisoned for Criticizing Tunisia's President

 A Tunisian court has ordered the remandment of two journalists, Broadcaster Borhen Bsaies and political commentator Mourad Zeghidi, who were arrested on Saturday 11 May 2024, on account of " spreading false information" about the government of Kais Saied, Tunisia's president. Ordering the duo's remandment on Wednesday 15 May, the court asserted that the two journalists will indefinitely remain in pretrial detention until completion of investigation into the critical comments made by the broadcaster and political commentator. Criticism of Tunisia’s president is often used as a reason for officials to charge people with undermining state security.

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Borhen Bsaies and Mourad Zeghidi were arrested after being accused of violating a Tunisian cybercrime law barring fake news and undermining state security. Bsaies’s attorney, Nizar Ayed, informed the press that his client was questioned for five hours about his Facebook posts and political views but did not offer clear evidence that he had violated the law or made remarks targeting the president. Mourad Zeghidi and Borhen Bsaies had until their arrest and subsequent detention, worked together as commentators and programme hosts on private radio and television channels.