A Tunisian court on Thursday convicted and sentenced two prominent journalists to three and a half years in prison on tax evasion charges, which a family member said was retaliation for their reporting.
The two journalists, Bohran Bssaies and Mourad Zghidi, worked for local radio IFM and have been imprisoned since 2024, first under an eight-month sentence after being convicted of spreading false news and insulting the president, then under pre-trial detention for the tax case.
President Kais Saied rejected accusations that he was restricting press freedom.
Maryem Zghidi, Zghidiโs sister, said the family was โshockedโ by Thursdayโs sentence, describing the charges as baseless and retaliatory for his independent journalism.
โThe ruling is an attack on the press and freedom of expressionโ, she told Reuters. โThey want to silence Mouradโs voice, but we will not remain quiet.โ
The journalistsโ families are expected to appeal.
Critics say the government has cracked down on dissidents, including opposition leaders, journalists, and civil society activists, since Saied began ruling by decree in 2021.
(Reuters/NAN)
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