Tunisia arrests journalist for 'committing despicable act against president'

The Tunisian court of appeal yesterday upheld a decision to put three defendants on parole, and imprison four others, including a journalist, in a case involving a media production company located in the city of Sousse.

An investigation was opened on 13 September by the public prosecutor, with three defendants being probed in absentia after they were reported to have fled the country.

The defendants’ lawyer, Amine Bouker, told the Tunigate news site that his clients were charged with “assaulting the state’s authorities, inciting riots, murder, the looting of Tunisian soil, and attacking the state’s internal security.” He pointed out that one of the defendants was charged with “committing a despicable act against the head of state, Kais Saied.”

Saied has held nearly total power since 25 July when he sacked the prime minister, suspended parliament and assumed executive authority citing a national emergency.

READ: Tunisia arrests MP, TV anchor critical of president’s measures

Is Tunisia’s president Kais Saied like Louis XIV, King of France? – Cartoon [Sabaaneh/Middle East Monitor]