Tunisian Court Orders Release of Journalist Mohamed Boughalleb Amid Ongoing Crackdown on Press Freedom

A Tunisian court ordered the release of prominent journalist Mohamed Boughalleb, who had been detained since March 2024 under charges related to a presidential decree aimed at combating “false news.” Boughalleb, 61, was arrested following a complaint from a civil servant and was prosecuted under Decree 54, enacted in 2022, which mandates prison terms for disseminating information deemed false via communications networks.

Despite his release, Boughalleb remains barred from leaving Tunisia, with his next court hearing scheduled for April 21. His detention had drawn criticism from rights groups and his family, who cited his health issues, including diabetes and heart trouble, as concerns.

Boughalleb, known for his critical stance towards President Kais Saied, was arrested by a cybercrime unit for “insulting others” on social media after comments he posted online about a religious affairs ministry official. He was also charged over comments made on a radio show. Initially sentenced to six months in prison, a Tunis appeals court later handed him two additional months.

His release came a day after the release of prominent human rights activist Sihem Bensedrine, who had been detained for months. Bensedrine, 74, was the head of the now-defunct Truth and Dignity Commission, which investigated human rights abuses in Tunisia. She remains under investigation for other charges and is subject to a travel ban.

These releases occur amid increasing international criticism of Tunisia’s crackdown on dissent. The United Nations has called on Tunisian authorities to end the pattern of arrests, arbitrary detentions, and imprisonment of journalists, activists, and political opponents.

Rights groups have also called for the repeal or revision of Decree 54, under which approximately 400 people are being prosecuted. The decree has been criticized for its broad and vague definitions, which have been used to suppress freedom of expression and target critics of the government.

While the release of Boughalleb and Bensedrine is seen as a positive step, concerns remain about the ongoing suppression of press freedom and civil liberties in Tunisia. President Saied, who came to power in 2019 and assumed additional powers in 2021, has faced accusations of undermining democratic institutions and freedoms, which he denies.