The Tunisian Court of Appeal has confirmed prison sentences of three and a half years for two journalists in a case condemned by NGOs.
On Tuesday 12 May, the Tunis Court of Appeal upheld the three-and-a-half-year prison sentences handed down to two Tunisian journalists, Mourad Zeghidi and Borhen Bsaies.
The ruling confirms the decision handed down at first instance in January, in a case involving charges of “money laundering” and “tax evasion”.
The court’s decision comes amid ongoing tensions surrounding civil liberties in Tunisia. The two journalists’ lawyer, Sami Ben Ghazi, expressed his “disappointment” at a verdict that upholds the original sentence without modification.
The two defendants, well-known figures in the Tunisian media landscape, thus remain at risk of prolonged imprisonment in a case that has provoked strong reactions.
Press freedom organisations reacted swiftly. Reporters Without Borders (RSF) described the proceedings as “judicial harassment”, arguing that this case is part of a wider trend affecting journalists and media professionals in the country.
This assessment reinforces the concerns expressed in recent months by international NGOs regarding developments in the environment for journalism in Tunisia.
This ruling forms part of a series of legal proceedings targeting public figures, in a context marked by an increased use of legal action, according to observers and international organisations.
The Tunisian authorities, for their part, have not provided any new information detailing the legal grounds for upholding the sentence beyond the original charges.
Apart from the specific case of the two journalists, this decision fuels the debate on the balance between judicial imperatives and respect for fundamental freedoms in the country. It comes at a time when Tunisia is under intense scrutiny from international organisations regarding civil rights and the functioning of its judicial institutions.
MK/AK/Sf/fss/as/APA