Tunisian journalists announce general strike over press freedom

Journalists in Tunisia have organized a solidarity day at the National Syndicate of Tunisian Journalists headquarters to support four colleagues currently imprisoned. The event included messages of support from approximately 300 journalists and visits from legal and civil society representatives, including the dean of lawyers, Boubaker Belthabet, and a delegation from the Tunisian Association of Democratic Women led by Raja Dahmani.

The syndicate has announced a forthcoming general strike, the date of which will be determined by the executive office, to protest what they describe as systematic repression of the press. The imprisoned journalists include Burhan Bseis and Mourad Zghidi, who received sentences of three years and six months for money laundering and criminal charges; Ziad El Hani, sentenced to one year for “insulting others via public communication networks”; and Mohamed El Yousfi, who was recently detained on charges related to illicit enrichment and money laundering.

While human rights organizations have accused the authorities of restricting freedom of expression and targeting activists and political opponents, President Kaïs Saïed has maintained that the country's judicial system is independent and free from interference.