Reporters Without Borders (RSF) has condemned the imprisonment of Tunisian independent journalist Zied El-Heni and called for his immediate release, arguing that the legal proceedings against him reflect an abusive use of legislation to silence critical voices.
According to the press freedom organisation, El-Heni was placed in detention in a case involving “harm to others via public communication networks” following a Facebook post in which he defended a fellow journalist he believed had been unjustly convicted.
RSF states that the journalist was arrested on 24 April, held in custody, and subsequently imprisoned on 26 April under Article 86 of Tunisia’s Telecommunications Code. He appeared before the Tunis Court of First Instance on 30 April, with a ruling expected on 7 May.
“Zied El-Heni is in prison for simply defending a colleague who was unjustly convicted, and thus for defending press freedom,” said Oussama Bouagila, head of RSF’s North Africa desk. He added that resorting to Article 86 against a journalist is a “disproportionate” measure reflecting a deteriorating media environment.
The case stems from a Facebook post in which the journalist criticised magistrates involved in the conviction of Mosaïque FM journalist Khalifa Guesmi. Guesmi, along with a police officer, had been prosecuted under anti-terrorism legislation following the publication of an article on the dismantling of a terrorist cell.
RSF recalls that Guesmi was initially sentenced to one year in prison, a term later increased to five years on appeal. The Court of Cassation later overturned the conviction, leading to a dismissal of charges after nearly two years of proceedings, during which the journalist spent six months in detention.
The organisation argues that the use of Article 86 of the Telecommunications Code, introduced under former President Zine El-Abidine Ben Ali and carrying penalties of up to two years in prison, is part of a broader legal framework used against journalists. It also cites Decree-Law 54 on cybercrime, which has been widely criticised by human rights groups.
RSF further reports that El-Heni began a hunger strike on 27 April to protest the charges against him and to demand that only laws governing press freedom and audiovisual communication be applied in his case.
MK/AK/lb/as/APA