Tunisian police have arrested journalist Mohamed Yousfi, who is known for his criticism of President Kais Saied, according to the head of the National Syndicate of Tunisian Journalists. Yousfi, the editor-in-chief of the investigative news website Al-Qatiba, was taken in for questioning on Friday, although the specifics of the investigation remain unclear. This arrest is part of a broader trend of prosecutions against journalists and activists in Tunisia under Saied's administration.
In recent months, several media figures have faced legal actions, including Khaoula Boukrim, who was sentenced in absentia to four years in June after fleeing to France, and Zied el-Heni, who received a one-year prison sentence in May. Additionally, broadcaster Mourad Zeghidi and political commentator Borhen Bsaies were sentenced to three and a half years in January.
Rights organizations have expressed concerns regarding a growing crackdown on independent voices in Tunisia, as Saied's government has dismantled democratic safeguards, allowing for more aggressive actions against critics. On Thursday, Tunisia’s Court of Cassation upheld a mass trial involving 40 individuals, including opposition leaders and human rights defenders, who were convicted of conspiring to overthrow the government. Lawyer Haifa Chebbi, whose father was sentenced to 12 years, stated that the ruling indicates a lack of judicial independence. In response, Tunisia’s Minister of Justice Leila Jaffel claimed that the defendants aimed to destabilize the country.