Tunisia Upholds Sentence Against Jailed Journalists
The Tunisian appeals court upholds the three-and-a-half-year prison sentences of two journalists, Mourad Zeghidi and Borhen Bsaies, for alleged financial crimes.
A Tunisian appeals court upheld the three-and-a-half-year prison sentences of two prominent journalists, Mourad Zeghidi and Borhen Bsaies, who were jailed for alleged financial crimes.
Their lawyer, Sami Ben Ghazi, expressed disappointment with the verdict.The journalists were initially sentenced in January for charges of money laundering and tax evasion, which they have consistently denied.
According to their defense, prosecutors based their case on the presumption that the journalists possessed unexplained wealth and failed to pay sufficient taxes.Rights groups have criticized President Kais Saied's administration for restricting freedoms since his power grab in 2021, with numerous critics facing imprisonment.
Reporters Without Borders (RSF) has condemned the case against Zeghidi and Bsaies as 'judicial harassment,' arguing that the charges lack substantial evidence.The defense team argued in court that prosecutors improperly accused the journalists of money laundering by presuming their financial excesses without concrete proof.
Ben Ghazi highlighted the difficulty in defending his clients due to a lack of resources.During the trial, Zeghidi was questioned about his company's finances and bank transactions both within Tunisia and abroad.
Bsaies faced inquiries regarding his decision to leave teaching and how his wife funded the establishment of a private school.RSF emphasized that no credible evidence has been presented against the journalists, including hidden assets or suspicious financial activities.
The organization maintains that the prosecution stems from their journalistic work rather than any legitimate evidence of criminal activity.In another related case, prominent journalist Zied el-Heni was sentenced to one year in prison for 'offending others' after criticizing the cases against Zeghidi and Bsaies.
Their lawyer, Sami Ben Ghazi, expressed disappointment with the verdict.The journalists were initially sentenced in January for charges of money laundering and tax evasion, which they have consistently denied.
According to their defense, prosecutors based their case on the presumption that the journalists possessed unexplained wealth and failed to pay sufficient taxes.Rights groups have criticized President Kais Saied's administration for restricting freedoms since his power grab in 2021, with numerous critics facing imprisonment.
Reporters Without Borders (RSF) has condemned the case against Zeghidi and Bsaies as 'judicial harassment,' arguing that the charges lack substantial evidence.The defense team argued in court that prosecutors improperly accused the journalists of money laundering by presuming their financial excesses without concrete proof.
Ben Ghazi highlighted the difficulty in defending his clients due to a lack of resources.During the trial, Zeghidi was questioned about his company's finances and bank transactions both within Tunisia and abroad.
Bsaies faced inquiries regarding his decision to leave teaching and how his wife funded the establishment of a private school.RSF emphasized that no credible evidence has been presented against the journalists, including hidden assets or suspicious financial activities.
The organization maintains that the prosecution stems from their journalistic work rather than any legitimate evidence of criminal activity.In another related case, prominent journalist Zied el-Heni was sentenced to one year in prison for 'offending others' after criticizing the cases against Zeghidi and Bsaies.
