Tunisia: Jailed for ‘Defamation’ 3 of 3 https://www.hrw.org/node/301353/printable/print a public prosecutor, and served two months in jail. The UN Human Rights Committee, the international body of experts who interpret the International Covenant for Civil and Political Rights, has said that all public figures are legitimately subject to public criticism, and that there should be no prohibition of criticism of public institutions. Defamation should be treated as a civil, not a criminal, issue and never punished with a prison term, the committee said. The committee said “that in circumstances of public debate concerning public figures in the political domain and public institutions, the value placed by the Covenant upon uninhibited expression is particularly high. Thus, the mere fact that forms of expression are considered to be insulting to a public figure is not sufficient to justify the imposition of penalties. Moreover, all public figures, including those exercising the highest political authority such as heads of state and government, are legitimately subject to criticism and political opposition. Zarrouk’s appeal for the first conviction is scheduled for March 22. Region / Country • Middle East/North Africa • Tunisia Source URL: https://www.hrw.org/news/2017/03/21/tunisia-jailed-defamation 1/22/2025, 1:23 PM