5/10/2017 Tunisia: Spate of Prosecutions for Free Speech | Human Rights Watch September , : AM EDT Available In ‫اﻟﻌﺮﺑﻴﺔ‬ English Français Tunisia: Spate of Prosecutions for Free Speech Journalists, Union Leader Prosecuted for Criticizing O cials     (Tunis) – n authorities should quash the detention of a prominent activist and the prosecutions of two journalists for expressing their opinions. They are accused of defaming public officials. On September 9, 2013, an investigative judge ordered the detention of Walid Zarrouk, a union leader, for a Facebook post criticizing the politicization of prosecutions. The same day, in separate cases, prosecutors summoned Zouhaer al-Jiss, a journalist, for moderating a radio program in which a guest criticized Tunisia’s president, and Zied al-Heni, a journalist who had criticized the arrest of a cameraman for filming an egg-throwing attack on the culture minister. “Judicial authorities are resorting again and again to the same articles in the penal code as a repressive tool against free speech,” said , acting Middle East and North Africa director at Human Rights Watch. “Instead of trying to silence critics, the government should look into their allegations, and fix the laws from the old repressive government that criminalize criticism of public figures.” https://www.hrw.org/news/2013/09/13/tunisia-spate-prosecutions-free-speech 1/9