Rédaction Africa Links 24 with satarbf
Published on 2024-03-26 13:50:11
Based on a decree issued by the head of state, the ministries of interior and justice are responsible for the majority of complaints filed against citizens critical of the regime.
Faced with a complaint from a civil servant of the Ministry of Religious Affairs accusing him of harming his reputation, journalist Mohamed Boughalleb was placed in police custody on Friday, March 22, awaiting to be questioned by an examining magistrate.
Already facing several complaints from the same ministry, he risks a sentence of up to ten years in prison under decree-law 54-2022. This law, promulgated by Kaïs Saïed in September 2022, officially aims to combat the spread of “fake news and false rumors,” punishing anyone who “deliberately uses communication networks and information systems to produce, promote, publish or send false information or false rumors” with five years in prison and a fine of 50,000 dinars (around 15,000 euros). The sentence could be up to ten years in prison for defamation against a state official.
Since the implementation of this law, several journalists have been prosecuted for statements made in the course of their work, as well as Tunisian bloggers. Some have been sentenced to prison terms for expressing their opinions on social media.
“Offense against the head of state”
Nasreddine Helimi, 42, unemployed, was sentenced to seven years in prison by the military court of Kef, in northwestern Tunisia, on March 7 for publications commenting on the political situation and criticizing the army: six years under decree-law 54 and an additional year for “insult to the dignity, reputation, and morale of the army,” according to military justice.
Earlier, in December 2023, the NGO Amnesty International had already expressed concern about the “increase in the number of civilians prosecuted by military courts since July 25, 2021,” when the head of state assumed full powers.
Meanwhile, blogger and activist Abdelmonem Hafidhi was also tried on March 7 by the court of first instance of Gafsa and sentenced to six months in prison for “offense against the head of state.” An employee of the phosphate company of Gafsa – who risks being fired following his conviction – this father of four, who is very active on social media, was arrested on February 18 at his home and incarcerated.
Active since the 2010-2011 revolution and a supporter of candidate Kaïs Saïed in the 2019 presidential election, Mr. Hafidhi has been critical of the regime since the power grab on July 25, 2021. According to the Association for Rights and Freedoms (Aidl), which has examined this case, the incriminated publications only reflect the political opinions of the individual. The association considers his arrest to be “another violation committed by the Tunisian state and a violation of human rights.”
The same accusation of “offense against the head of state” was brought against artist Rached Tamboura, whose sentence of two years in prison was upheld on appeal on January 31. At 27, this fine arts student and far-left militant was arrested on July 17, 2023, for graffiti painted on a wall calling President Kaïs Saïed a “fascist” and a “racist.” This action aimed to denounce the treatment of sub-Saharan migrants displaced to the Libyan and Algerian borders, in the desert, without water or food.
The cases of these journalists, bloggers, or artists are not isolated incidents. Between July 25, 2021, and January 14, 2024, about 1,484 people have been prosecuted for offenses related to freedom of expression or their political activities, according to a monitoring carried out by the Alliance for Security and Liberties (ASL), a coalition of Tunisian and international civil society organizations.
Administrations often behind the complaints
Among them, more than 1,000 are prosecuted under anti-terrorism laws, 51 under decree-law 54, and 55 for insulting the head of state, according to Nawres Zoghbi Douzi, coordinator of ASL, who notes an increase in the use of repressive laws. The targeted individuals are party leaders, lawyers, judges, journalists, as well as citizens with no political affiliation. Despite these figures, the Tunisian government assures that “public liberties are more than ever guaranteed” in a statement published on March 23.
The non-exhaustive documentation of ASL reveals that Tunisian administrations are often behind the complaints filed, with the ministries of interior, justice, and the Independent Higher Authority for Elections (ISIE) leading the way. Essayist and political analyst Hatem Nafti, author of the book Tunisia. Towards Authoritarian Populism? (Riveneuve edition, 2022), affirms that the administration’s vehement reaction to the 2010-2011 revolution has been underestimated. The government seeks to restore a form of “state prestige” by silencing dissenting voices. The numerous complaints from ISIE are particularly problematic, as they target potential presidential candidates like Abir Moussi, leader of the Free Destourian Party (PDL), detained since October 3, 2023, ahead of an election scheduled for autumn 2024. Hatem Nafti analyzes this as a “sort of revenge by the administration, allowing the government to silence opponents.”
Source: Le Monde Journal
Read the original article(French) on Tunisie Focus
