The National Syndicate of Tunisian Journalists warned on Monday of the deterioration of the health of journalists Mohamed Boughalleb and Shaza El-Haj Mubarak inside prison, “putting their lives in imminent danger.”
The union noted in a statement the “seriousness” of the deterioration of the journalists’ health. “They require urgent and multiple medical interventions in medical institutions that guarantee the effectiveness of treatment,” it insisted.
Boughalleb in particular is known to suffer from diabetes. A Tunisian court sentenced him last June to eight months in prison on charges of “defaming a public official.”
Mubarak was arrested on 23 July 2023 on charges in the so-called “InstaLingo” case (a company specialising in content production and digital communications). This dates back to October 2021, when the authorities arrested InstaLingo employees and interrogated journalists, bloggers, freelancers and politicians on charges including committing a heinous act against the head of state, conspiring against internal state security, and espionage.
The syndicate reiterated its call to the state and Tunisian courts “to stop all unconstitutional prosecutions outside the framework of the law regulating the press sector of all journalists and media professionals referred to court for journalistic and media content.”
Anadolu news agency was unable to obtain an immediate response from the Tunisian authorities regarding the statement issued by the Syndicate, while President Kais Saied has repeatedly stressed the independence of the judicial system in his country.
However, at least three other journalists are being held in prison. On 11 May last year, lawyer and television commentator Sonia Dahmani was arrested after she made remarks on a television programme which were critical of the general situation in Tunisia, and mocked the government’s policies, especially with regard to the issue of irregular migration.
A Tunisian court sentenced political analyst and commentator Murad Zeghidi and television and radio presenter Burhan Bessis to one year in prison each after making statements critical of the authorities. The charges against them included using a network and information and communication systems to produce, promote, send and prepare false news and rumours with the aim of attacking the rights of others and harming public security.
Tunisia: Committee calls for fair trial of detainees in ‘conspiracy’ case