In Tunisia, the journalist Zied el-Heni was released on June 22, 2023, he had been placed in police custody after having criticized during a program an article of the penal code in connection with the insult to the head of the State. “Tomorrow morning, I will be back on my radio and I will be critical, as always,” he assured after leaving a Tunis court.
In Tunisia, less than 48 hours after being arrested, journalist Zied el-Heni was released on Thursday. A short stay in prison for having mocked live on the radio an article of law condemning the offense to the Head of State.
Free to move, he intends to continue his fight for freedom, he told RFI, who met him when he had just been released.
I must not let go
Before the Tunis Court of Justice, Zied el-Heni lends himself to the game of interviews while sipping a coffee punctuated with hugs and smiles. He still can’t get over having been arrested for comments made in the context of his job: “It’s a shame that a journalist is prosecuted for the simple reason that he discussed an article of law and for saying that we are abusing this article.”
He who has already experienced prison under former President Zine el-Abidine Ben Ali puts this short return to jail into perspective. And when asked what this experience will change in his practice of journalism, here is his answer, with a big laugh: “But they are stupid! Me, I must not let go. Tomorrow morning, I’ll be back in my radio. And I will be critical, as always. And I will repeat forcefully: Long live democracy! Long live freedom! Long live Tunisia! Kais Saied leads the country towards dictatorship. He is taking off our clothes piece by piece.”
The journalist has regained his freedom of tone and movement, but is still being prosecuted by the Tunisian courts.
