A Tunisian court has sentenced journalist Ghassen Ben Khelifa, editor-in-chief of the news website Inhiyaz, to two years in prison on charges of publishing false information, in a case that media unions say reflects a broader crackdown on press freedom.
The National Syndicate of Tunisian Journalists (SNJT) said on Tuesday that the case dates back more than three years, describing the ruling as part of a “systematic targeting of critical voices” in the country.
Ben Khelifa rejected the charges, calling the case fabricated and arguing it highlights deeper failures within the system.
The verdict comes amid mounting criticism from rights groups, who accuse authorities of tightening restrictions on dissent since President Kais Saied began ruling by decree in 2021.
Saied has denied accusations of curbing freedoms, insisting that press freedom remains protected and rejecting claims of authoritarianism.
In January, a separate court sentenced two prominent journalists, Mourad Zghidi and Borhen Bsaies, to three-and-a-half years in prison on tax evasion charges — a move critics said was intended to retaliate against their reporting and intimidate independent media.
Freedom of expression had expanded significantly following the Tunisian Revolution, which toppled former president Zine El Abidine Ben Ali and helped spark the Arab Spring.
However, critics argue that Saied’s consolidation of power since 2021 has eroded democratic safeguards, enabling authorities to pursue journalists and restrict independent reporting.
The journalists’ union also says public media outlets, including state television and radio, have increasingly aligned with the government, while independent journalists face growing legal pressure and obstacles to their work.