Khaberni - A Tunisian court, on Thursday evening, sentenced prominent journalists Burhan Besis and Murad Zoghidi to three and a half years in prison in a case related to "money laundering and tax crimes".
According to the Tunisian News Agency, the criminal division of the Primary Court in Tunis issued the verdict against the journalists, along with financial penalties and the confiscation of their money, in addition to seizing the social shares of the companies they invest in for the benefit of the public treasury.
Besis and Zoghidi have been in prison since May 2024 and are among the most prominent media voices opposing the policies of President Kais Saied. They were previously sentenced to one year in prison for "spreading false news" in a separate case, based on Presidential Decree No. 54 concerning crimes related to communication and information systems.
Retaliatory Judgment
Reuters quoted Murad Zoghidi's sister, Mariam Zoghidi, saying the family was "shocked" by the verdict, noting that the lawyers "proved that the charges had no legal basis." She added that the ruling was "retaliatory due to his free opinions and independent journalism."
Zoghidi's sister stated, "This judgment is a blatant assault on the press and freedom of expression," adding: "It is clear that they want to silence Murad's voice, but as his sister, I will not remain silent."
The defense team is expected to file legal appeals against the verdict.
Press Freedom
This judgment intensifies the concerns of press freedom advocates in Tunisia, who see the authorities increasingly targeting independent journalists, alongside opposition leaders and civil society activists, since Saied tightened his grip on power in July 2021.
Since the Tunisian revolution in 2011, press freedom has been one of the most significant gains for Tunisians, with Tunisian media considered among the most open in the Arab world. However, politicians, journalists, and professional unions, led by the Tunisian Journalists' Union, warn today that this freedom is facing a serious and accelerating threat.
Local and international human rights organizations consider Decree 54 an "instrument for silencing critical voices and suppressing freedom of expression," while President Kais Saied denies these allegations, affirming on multiple occasions that the Tunisian judiciary is independent.
In contrast, the opposition accuses Saied of using the judiciary to pursue his opponents who reject the extraordinary measures, amid an ongoing political crisis that the country has been experiencing for over three years.
