The National Union of Tunisian Journalists (SNJT) has “categorically” condemned last Thursday’s arrest of journalist Zied El Heni and “firmly” rejected the detention warrant issued against him on Monday.
In a statement, the SNJT denounced the journalist’s arrest, under “oppressive judicial procedures” that are prejudicial to the detainee, and called for his immediate release and for “an end to the prosecution and punishment of journalists for their opinions”.
For the union, the prosecution’s decision to arrest Zied El Heni under Article 86 of the Telecommunications Law is “a violation of the right to freedom of expression” and “a flagrant violation of the freedom of the press”.
It points out that the transitional provisions of Decree-Law 115 of 2011 on the freedom of the press, printing and publishing refer in Articles 55 and 57 to the same offence of which Zied El Heni is accused. These provide for a fine for the offender.
The union has also invited journalists to a meeting at the SNJT headquarters on W
ednesday, January 3 to discuss the measures to be taken to protect journalists.
On Monday, the public prosecutor issued a detention warrant for journalist Zied El Heni on charges of causing harm to others through public telecommunications networks, and set a court hearing for January 10.
Source: Agence Tunis Afrique Presse