A Tunisian court sentenced two TV and radio journalists to one year in prison on Wednesday, May 22, for criticizing the government on their programs and social media. Borhane Bsaïs and Mourad Zeghidi each received six months for disseminating “fake news” and an additional six months for “making false statements with the intent to defame,” specifically targeting Tunisian President Kaïs Saied, according to court spokesperson Mohamed Zitouna.
The sentencing occurred less than two weeks after their arrests. Both journalists are part of a broader group facing charges under Decree 54, a law criminalizing the spread of “fake news” that could harm public safety or national defense. Rights advocates have criticized the law, enacted in 2022 to combat cybercrime, for its vague definitions and for being used to suppress the president’s critics.
Bsaïs and Zeghidi denied the accusations, citing laws protecting freedom of expression established after Tunisia’s 2011 revolution, which ousted a longtime dictator. They asserted that their roles involve analyzing and commenting on Tunisia’s political and economic developments.
“I am neither for nor against the president. Sometimes I support his choices, sometimes I criticize them. It’s part of my job,” Zeghidi stated.
Bsaïs, the host of “Emission Impossible” (“Impossible Program” in English), was accused of undermining the president through his radio show and Facebook posts from 2019 to 2022. He objected to his arrest, describing it as unnecessarily harsh.
The trial has sparked international condemnation and domestic criticism, with many journalists demonstrating in front of the court in support. Zied Dabbar, president of Tunisia’s National Journalists Syndicate, remarked that “any journalistic work can give rise to prosecution,” noting that 39 journalists have faced charges under Decree 54 this year.
President Saied has been criticized for suspending parliament and rewriting the constitution to consolidate power three years ago, with opponents voicing concerns over the government’s handling of political, economic, and migration issues in the Mediterranean.
