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Tunisian lawyers have condemned what they describe as ongoing “judicial harassment” against political commentator Mourad Zeghidi, who remains in detention despite serving most of his sentence. Speaking at a press conference on Wednesday, his defence team argued that Zeghidi’s imprisonment is intended to intimidate critics of President Kais Saied.
Zeghidi was arrested in May 2024 after making remarks deemed critical of the authorities. Although he was originally sentenced to 12 months in prison, the term was later reduced to eight. According to his legal team, he should have been released in January 2025, yet an arrest warrant was unexpectedly issued while he was still behind bars.
Fethi Mouldi, one of Zeghidi’s lawyers, said he was stunned by the timing of the new warrant, which was issued just as his client was nearing release. The new allegation—money laundering—has brought the case under anti-terrorism legislation, which Mouldi labelled as part of a broader strategy to intimidate dissenters. He accused the authorities of misusing the legal system to silence a journalist known for his moderate and analytical commentary.
Rights groups have repeatedly expressed concern about Tunisia’s declining civil liberties since President Saied’s 2021 power grab, during which he dissolved parliament and began ruling by decree. The country has since dropped 11 spots in the 2025 Reporters Without Borders press freedom index, now ranking 129th globally.
Zeghidi’s sister, Meriem, insisted that her brother’s imprisonment is politically motivated. “He’s not in prison for fraud or corruption,” she said. “He was simply doing his job, offering political and social analysis.”
Zeghidi is due to appear before investigators on 15 May regarding the money laundering accusation. His legal team has reiterated that Tunisia’s judiciary is no longer independent and is being used to suppress free speech. Lawyer Ghazi Mrabet accused the government of deliberately targeting outspoken individuals.
Many of President Saied’s opponents have been prosecuted under Decree 54, a controversial law introduced in 2022 to clamp down on so-called “false news”. More than 60 journalists, lawyers, and opposition figures have faced legal action under this legislation, according to the National Syndicate of Tunisian Journalists (SNJT). In addition, mass trials have recently resulted in lengthy prison sentences for other government critics accused of conspiring against state security.
