The Tunisian Journalists Syndicate warns against intimidation of journalists after the arrest of Mohamed Al-Youssoufi

The Tunisian Journalists Syndicate warned on Saturday of continued intimidation of journalists in Tunisia after the editor-in-chief of the Al-Katiba website, which specializes in investigative reporting, was suspended.

According to the German News Agency, a security team took journalist Mohamed Al-Yousifi, yesterday evening, Friday, to the headquarters of the Central Division specialized in complex financial crimes, affiliated with the National Guard, in Al-Aouina in the capital, while he was preparing to participate in a talk show in front of the headquarters of the private “Xpress FM” radio station.

The judicial authorities later ordered him to be kept in detention for investigation into financial crimes. This is the latest judicial move against journalists in Tunisia, after a series of arrests and trials that included, in particular, Burhan Bseis and Murad Al-Zughidi, who have been in prison since May 2024.

The union said that Al-Yousifi’s suspension was based on posts published on the social networking site “Facebook,” and that Al-Yousifi was listened to about his journalistic work and the nature of the editorial line at the “Al-Katiba” Foundation. The site specializes in running podcast dialogues and publishing investigative reports that reveal poor governance and corruption in the administration.

The union continued, explaining in a press statement today that “the restrictions on the press in Tunisia go beyond isolated cases and have turned into a recurring pattern of pressure, persecution, and intimidation.” International human rights organizations warn of a significant decline in public freedoms in Tunisia, since the announcement of exceptional measures in the country on July 25, 2021, and President Kais Saied significantly expanding his powers in government.

Dozens of prominent opposition politicians, activists, businessmen, lawyers, and journalists are in prison on charges of conspiring against state security, financial corruption, terrorism, and publishing false news. The opposition says these are “political and fabricated” accusations. While President Kais Saied says that he is working to combat corruption and chaos, he also accuses his opponents of trying to dismantle the state from within.

Youssoufi's arrest comes in the wake of a series of cases, which human rights organizations and the Journalists Syndicate considered evidence of the decline of public freedoms in Tunisia. On Thursday, lawyer Ghazi Merabet, known for handling politically sensitive cases and others related to civil liberties, was arrested and placed in detention, according to local media reports.

On Friday, the European Union expressed its concern after the Tunisian Court of Cassation upheld the aggravated sentences issued against about 40 people, including prominent opponents, in the case of “conspiring against state security.” Among those imprisoned in the case are veteran opposition figure Ahmed Najib Al-Shabbi, lawyer Al-Ayachi Al-Hammami, former prominent leader of the Ennahda movement Abdelhamid Al-Jalasi, former centrist minister Ghazi Al-Chaouachi, and activist Shaima Issa.

European Commission foreign affairs spokesman Christian Wiegand said: “The European Union followed with concern the rulings upheld by the Tunisian Court of Cassation on September 3 in what is known as the case of conspiracy against state security, which resulted in long prison sentences for dozens of political figures, activists, human rights defenders and journalists,” adding that “some questions remain regarding full compliance with fair trial guarantees.”