Tunisia press freedom under attack as journalists face prison

Tunisia’s press freedom continues to deteriorate under Decree‑Law 54. The release of Tunisian lawyer and commentator Sonia Dahmani in late 2025 offered a brief respite from the country’s escalating crackdown on dissent, but her freedom remains conditional. Multiple open cases against her carry possible sentences of up to 20 years, underscoring Tunisia’s willingness to treat political speech as a criminal offense and highlighting the worsening environment for journalists.

Since President Kais Saied’s consolidation of power in 2021, Decree‑Law 54 has been employed to silence critics, criminalize routine reporting, and imprison at least five journalists. The law’s vague provisions grant prosecutors broad discretion to target activists, lawyers, commentators, ordinary citizens, and journalists alike. Radio journalists Mourad Zghidi and Borhen Bsaies have been detained for more than 500 days, despite having completed an eight‑month sentence; new investigations effectively extend their imprisonment indefinitely. Digital media producer Chadha Hadj Mbarek remains jailed on a five‑year sentence linked to her work, with reports of deteriorating health and limited medical care. Veteran broadcaster Mohamed Boughaleb received a new two‑year prison term under Decree‑Law 54, despite contested evidence.

These cases reveal a clear pattern of repression, with authorities swiftly moving against critics and imposing detention or harsh penalties. According to the National Syndicate of Tunisian Journalists, at least 39 cases have been brought against journalists for their work since May 2023, resulting in 10 prison sentences between April 2024 and April 2025. The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) has counted at least three journalists still in prison for their reporting or expression. The chilling effect extends far beyond those behind bars, as journalists are increasingly barred from covering hearings and trials that are frequently closed.

The CPJ continues to call for the unconditional release of all journalists jailed for their work, the dismissal of all Decree‑Law 54 cases, and the repeal or fundamental reform of the law. Tunisia’s press‑freedom landscape is deteriorating, making independent journalism functionally impossible and rendering dissent punishable by years of legal retaliation. The country risks cementing a system where freedom of expression is severely curtailed, and the fight to keep its information space from closing altogether is ongoing.