Tunisian Journalist Sentenced to Six Months in Prison Amidst Government Crackdown on Media

Tunis, Tunisia — A Tunisian judge has handed down a six-month prison sentence to journalist and political commentator Mohamed Boughalleb, marking a significant escalation in the government's crackdown on media freedom.

Boughalleb, who is 60, has been behind bars since last month following his arrest prompted by accusations of insulting a civil servant.

The charges stemmed from a complaint by a member of the Tunisian Ministry of Religious Affairs, who was targeted in Boughalleb's Facebook posts.

The posts criticized the official's foreign trips with the minister, labeling them as a misuse of public funds and a "waste of public funds." Boughalleb was subsequently charged under Tunisia's defamation laws within the penal and telecommunications codes.

The conviction, denounced by Boughalleb's lawyers as an "attack on freedom of expression," comes at a politically charged moment as President Kais Saied gears up for a potential second term.

The case has highlighted the broader pattern of actions against journalists, with Ziad Dabbar, president of the National Union of Tunisian Journalists, noting that around 20 journalists are currently facing similar charges.

Dabbar condemned the sentence as another attempt to silence journalists and hinder their ability to report freely.

This incident is part of a growing trend of restricted civil liberties in Tunisia, where journalists, activists, and political opponents face increasing pressure and legal actions.

More than 20 activists and politicians have been imprisoned for over a year on charges related to plotting against state security, in what defenders claim are politicized cases.

These developments follow President Saied's controversial moves since taking office, including suspending the parliament, rewriting the constitution to consolidate his power, and reducing the independence of the judiciary.

This shift has led to intensified prosecutions of critics and opponents, raising serious concerns about the state of democracy and freedom of expression in Tunisia