UN Warns Against Tunisia Media Crackdown

The UN has urged Tunisian authorities to end a crackdown on the media and free speech.

It comes a few days after a prominent Tunisian journalist was arrested on charges of insulting President Kais Saied.

A judge ordered the detention of Zied el-Heni ahead of a trial in which he could be sentenced to five years in prison.

In a statement, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk described the situation as "troubling".

"The crackdown earlier this year against judges, politicians, labour leaders, businesspeople and civil society actors has now spread to target independent journalists, who are increasingly being harassed and stopped from doing their work," Mr Türk said.

"I urge Tunisia to change course," he added.

President Saied has previously defended his administration by saying he wants to save the north African nation from chaos.

However, critics have accused him of staging a coup after he suspended the National Assembly in 2021, passed a new constitution and moved to rule by decree.