Tunisian journalist Zied El Heni jailed for four years
A Tunis court sentenced journalist Zied El Heni to four years in prison on charges including terrorism.
Journalist Zied El Heni received a four-year prison sentence on Tuesday, October 27, 2026, from the terrorism court at the Tunis Court of First Instance. The National Syndicate of Tunisian Journalists (SNJT) condemned the ruling, stating it was linked to his profession and that the trial conditions were unfair. El Heni was prosecuted on four charges under anti-terrorism legislation, including forming a terrorist organization and disclosing secrets to one.
The conviction stems from an audio recording case involving Mondher Ounissi, former interim president of Ennahdha, and journalist Chahrazed Akacha. Ounissi received nine years in prison, and other defendants were sentenced to 25 years. El Heni, initially a witness after verifying audio recordings in September 2023, was later accused. The SNJT argues these proceedings endanger source confidentiality, a vital aspect of journalism and the public's right to information.
The SNJT also reported that defense lawyers could not present their arguments and El Heni did not attend his trial in person, participating via videoconference from Mornaguia prison. Technical issues reportedly disrupted the hearing. El Heni is already serving a one-year sentence from another case confirmed in June 2026. The syndicate has called for a retrial and an end to what it deems abusive prosecutions against journalists.
Why it mattersJournalist Zied El Heni was sentenced to four years in prison by a Tunisian court.