Tunisia jails MP for ‘insulting’ military

The Tunisian military court yesterday sentenced parliamentarian and blogger Yassine Ayari to three months in prison for “insulting” the military establishment.

Ayari said on Facebook that he has ten days to appeal before an arrest warrant is issued against him.

He added that he would inform the Parliament Speaker of the verdict, and will inform the interior minister and surrender himself to the nearest police station.

In January, the military court announced that three charges were filed against Ayari on 2 and 6 March and 28 April 2017 at the Permanent Military Tribunal in Tunis for “insulting and assaulting the military”.

Read: A quick solution is needed to Tunisia’s ruling party crisis, insists Ennahda

Ayari is one of the most prominent bloggers of the January 2011 revolution that overthrew former resident Zine El Abidine Ben Ali.

Human Rights Watch has condemned holding Ayari’s trial in a military court saying this violates his right to a fair trial and legal guarantees.