Tunisian radio journalist Borhen Bsaies is serving an eight-month prison sentence over his comments on his radio show, following his May 2024 arrest on false news and defamation charges.
On May 11, Bsaies, a journalist at local independent IFM radio station who presents a morning show, “L’emmission Impossible,” was arrested after police pulled him over on a highway outside the capital Tunis, as he was driving back from the neighboring city of Hammamet with his wife. His colleague Mourad Zghidi, who is also an IFM radio host, was arrested on the same day.
On May 22, a Tunis court convicted Bsaies and Zghidi on one count each of false news and defamation, and sentenced them to six months in prison on each count, totaling one year. An appeals court on July 26 upheld their conviction and reduced their sentence to eight months in prison.
Bsaies and Zghidi were charged under cybercrime Decree 54, which was introduced by President Kais Saied in September 2022 under a new constitution. That document replaced one of the Arab world’s most progressive constitutions, removing many previous protections for rights and freedoms.
Bsaies was questioned about his radio and TV statements, as well as social media statements he made between 2020 and 2023, including criticism of President Kais Saied and his dissolution of the High Judicial Council.
On May 27, the spokesperson for the Tunis Court of First Instance announced that the public prosecutor has ordered an investigation into Bsaies and Zghidi for alleged money laundering, in connection with suspicions of illicit enrichment and illegal ownership of company shares and properties. On December 3, the public prosecutor charged Bsaies and Zghidi with money laundering and ordered their continued detention pending investigation. Local journalists told CPJ that the new charge is a tool to silence Zghidi and Bsaies and prolong their time behind bars.
Bsaies is currently held in Mornaguia prison. CPJ was not able to determine the status of the journalist’s health in custody.
In late 2024, CPJ emailed the office of the president requesting comment on Bsaies’ case, but did not receive any reply.