Two popular Tunisian journalists handed three-year jail terms

Al JazeeraCenterEN 2 min read 100% complete January 22, 2026 at 10:47 PM

AI Summary

short article 2 min

A Tunisian court sentenced journalists Bohran Bssaies and Mourad Zghidi to three and a half years in prison on Thursday for "money laundering." The sentencing follows their initial jailing in May 2024 for "spreading false news" under Decree Law 54. Critics, including Reporters Without Borders, condemn the case as "legal persecution," arguing the journalists were targeted for criticizing President Kais Saied's political decisions. The journalists' defense maintains the tax-related charges are based on routine matters. The case is part of a growing trend of arrests targeting opposition figures, journalists, and critics of President Saied, raising concerns about freedom of the press in Tunisia.

Key Entities & Roles

Key Player Opposition Context

TAP news agency 40% Oussama Bouagila 50% Ahmed Nejib Chebbi 50% Tunis Court of First Instance 60% Kais Saied ×270% Reporters Without Borders (RSF) ×380% Bohran Bssaies ×590% Mourad Zghidi ×590% Tunisia ×6100%

Keywords

journalists 90% tunisia 80% prison terms 80% freedom of the press 70% press rights 70% money laundering 60% dissent 60% legal persecution 50% kais saied 50% false news 40%

Sentiment Analysis

Very Negative

Score: -0.70

Source Transparency

Source

Al Jazeera

Political Lean

Center (0.00)

Far LeftCenterFar Right

Classification Confidence

90%

Geographic Perspective

Tunisia

This article was automatically classified using rule-based analysis. The political bias score ranges from -1 (far left) to +1 (far right).

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journalists tunisia prison terms freedom of the press press rights money laundering dissent legal persecution kais saied false news

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