In a significant blow to freedom of speech in Tunisia, notable journalist Zied el-Heni was arrested on charges of insulting President Kais Saied. On Tuesday, 20th June, plainclothes security officers took el-Heni into custody, and he now faces the prospect of a five-year prison sentence if found guilty. The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) has condemned the arrest and called for el-Heni's immediate and unconditional release.
el-Heni, a well-known columnist and political commentator, was targeted in relation to his work on the independent radio station IFM, where he conducts the online daily radio show, 'Émission Impossible.' According to local sources and news reports, a judge ordered el-Heni to be held in custody pending trial, and as of Wednesday evening, he remained in the Bouchoucha detention center in Tunis.
Tunisian authorities have been unyielding in their approach. el-Heni's legal representation was not allowed to attend his detention questioning, and he was also denied necessary medication for his heart condition and high blood pressure, as reported by an anonymous local journalist to CPJ.
CPJ Middle East and North Africa Program Coordinator, Sherif Mansour, expressed grave concerns over the recent developments. Mansour stated, "The arrest of journalist Zied el-Heni on criminal insult charges is another clear example of President Kais Saied’s intolerance of the free press in Tunisia." Mansour urged for el-Heni's immediate release and the protection of press freedom, stating that journalists should be able to "discuss newsworthy topics without fear of spending years behind bars."
el-Heni’s arrest is allegedly connected to a broadcast on 'Émission Impossible' where he critically discussed Article 67 of the Algerian penal code. The said law imposes criminal penalties for committing an "evil act" against the president. This event takes place against the backdrop of increased pressure on journalists in Tunisia. Just last month, the prison sentence for journalist Khalifa Guesmi was escalated from one to five years on charges of disclosing national security information.
Despite attempts to reach out, the Tunisian Ministry of Interior has not provided a comment on el-Heni's case.
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