The imprisonment of two journalists in Tunisia revives the debate over media freedom and international criticism escalates

صحافة بلادي — My press – Tunisia

International criticism of the state of press freedom inwas renewed TunisiaFollowing the conviction of journalists Burhan Bassis and Murad Zghidi, in a case that sparked widespread controversy about the prosecution of voices critical of the authorities in the country.

Reporters Without Borders called for the “immediate and unconditional” release of the two Tunisian journalists detained since May 11, 2024, considering that their continued detention for a long period raises questions about the conditions of the trial.

On January 22, 2026, a Tunisian court issued a ruling to imprison journalists for an additional three and a half years on charges of publishing false news, based on Decree Law No. 54 regarding combating media misinformation on the Internet, a legal text opposed by several organizations defendingFreedom of the press.

Bseis and Zeghidi were presenting a radio program called “Mission Impossible,” before their case turned into one of the most prominent cases related to the tense relationship between the authorities and the critical media.

In this context, officials from Reporters Without Borders considered that their continued detention despite the absence of financial evidence in files related to money laundering or tax evasion raises doubts among a number of observers about the motives of the case.

These developments come in light of the escalation of international criticism of the media scene in Tunisia since the concentration of power in the hands of President Kais Saied in 2021, as human rights organizations speak of increasing prosecutions against journalists, bloggers, and opposition figures.

According to the 2025 World Press Freedom Index report issued by Reporters Without Borders, Tunisia ranked 129 out of 180 countries, a remarkable decline compared to the years following the 2011 revolution.

Source:“My press”