Tunisian Judge Orders Detention of Investigative Journalist Mohamed Yousfi

A Tunisian judge on Friday ordered the detention of prominent journalist Mohamed Yousfi after police intercepted him outside a radio station where he was scheduled to appear. The action represents the latest arrest targeting critical media voices and public figures in the country.

Intervention Outside Radio Studio

Yousfi, who serves as the editor-in-chief of the investigative news site Al-Qatiba, was stopped as he arrived to give an interview at Radio Express FM. Radio host Walid Ben Rhouma stated on social media that security forces prevented Yousfi from entering the building and took him into custody for questioning, without giving a reason at the scene.

Tunisia’s state news agency later reported, citing an unnamed judicial source, that a judge ordered Yousfi’s detention on charges of illicit enrichment and money laundering. Yousfi and Al-Qatiba are recognized for covering political, economic, social, and environmental issues, and Yousfi has been an outspoken critic of President Kais Saied.

Reactions from Journalists and Rights Advocates

Zied Dabbar, president of the national journalists’ syndicate SNJT, said he believed the detention was directly linked to Yousfi’s political commentary. The syndicate condemned the arrest, characterizing it as an attack on press freedom and on the rights of Tunisians to access independent media.

Human rights groups have warned of a shrinking space for free expression in Tunisia, pointing to a series of prosecutions directed at reporters, lawyers, and political opponents. Several media figures have been jailed this year, including Zied Heni, Mourad Zghidi, and Borhen Bsaies. In June, journalist Khaoula Boukrim was sentenced in absentia to four years in prison.

Parallel Arrest of Civil Liberties Lawyer

Yousfi’s detention follows the arrest on Thursday of lawyer Ghazi Mrabet, who is known for handling civil liberties cases and politically sensitive defenses. According to local media, Mrabet was placed in custody regarding alleged drug trafficking, though accounts regarding the exact circumstances of his case remain conflicting.

Background

Political friction has intensified in Tunisia since 2021, when President Kais Saied suspended parliament before formally dissolving it in 2022. While Saied asserts that civil liberties are guaranteed under his administration and rejects allegations of authoritarian rule, opposition figures and journalists have faced heightened legal pressure. In August, protesters gathered in the streets to demand the release of political prisoners and call for the president’s resignation.