Tunis: The Criminal Division of the Tunis Court of Appeal on Friday reduced the sentence of journalist Berhane Bssais from one year to 8 months in prison, his lawyer Nizar Ayad told TAP.

The same court will consider the case of journalist Mourad Zaghidi on July 30, Ayad added

The Criminal Division of the Tunis Court of First Instance on May 22 sentenced Bssais and Zeghidi to six months in prison each for the crime of ‘deliberately using a network and information and communication systems to produce, promote, publish, send and prepare false news and rumours, with the aim of violating the rights of others and undermining public security,’ according to the court’s decision.

The court also sentenced them to another six months in prison each for ‘using information systems and spreading news including the imputation of false information, with a view to defaming others and harming them materially and morally.’

The National Union of Tunisian Journalists (SNJT) and human rights organisations denounced the referral
of journalists, media professionals, commentators and all citizens in publishing cases under Decree 54 and other repressive laws as contrary to the provisions of the Constitution guaranteeing freedom of the press and expression, and called for the use of Decrees 115 and 116 in such cases

Source: Agence Tunis Afrique Presse