Tunisia - June 2023

In June, concerns over freedom of speech in Tunisia were heightened following the detention of prominent journalist, Zied El Heni. El Heni was taken into police custody on 21 June after criticizing the President and was accused of "crimes through telecommunications" channels but was released two days later. Concurrently, Tunisia has seen a wave of protests this month with demonstrators demanding the release of political prisoners. In view of these developments, the UN's Human Rights Chief has urged Tunisia to stop curbing media freedoms. Against this backdrop, the Parliamentary Bureau ruled on 15 June to prevent journalists from reporting on parliamentary committee gatherings. Subsequently, on 17 June, a judicial order was issued prohibiting media coverage of two cases related to alleged plots against state security, in which several political figures have been detained and prosecuted since February. Critics view these arrests and the media ban as attempts to silence opposition. Official statements indicate the ban was implemented to safeguard the privacy of individuals involved in the investigations.  

Sources: Reuters (1), North Africa Journal, Reuters (2), North Africa Post, UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights