Well-known journalist Zied El-Heni, who is currently serving a one-year prison sentence, awaits an appeals hearing on 12 June 2026. The Gulf Centre for Human Rights (GCHR) asks for supporters to call on the Tunisian authorities to overturn the sentence against El-Heni and unconditionally and immediately free him.

El-Heni was sentenced to prison on 07 May 2026 for social media posts critical of the authorities. He was tried outside the framework of Tunisia’s Press Freedom Decree-Law No. 115, on defamation charges filed without any prior individual complaint – a clear violation of press freedom standards.

He was sentenced on charges of “harm to others” under Article 86 of the telecommunications code for social media posts in which he criticised the unjust sentencing of journalist Khalifa Guesmi, who spent three and a half years imprisoned, and a National Guard officer who died after being detained. Both were ultimately exonerated after the court dismissed their charges.

Among other journalists prosecuted in Tunisia recently for public comments critical of the authorities, Sonia Dahmani and Ghassen Ben Khelifa, have been sentenced to prison, but remain conditionally free after spending time behind bars on various charges related to their profession. On 22 May 2026, the Tunis Court of First Instance handing down another two-year sentence to Dahmani for criticising prison conditions. She is appealing the sentence.

The National Union of Tunisian Journalists (SNJT) – of which El-Heni is a founding member – called on all journalists and defenders of free expression to gather on12 June 2026, for a solidarity stand outside the Court of First Instance on Rue Bab Benat in Tunis.

Take Action!

1. Sign the petition to call on the Tunisian authorities to Free Zied El-Heni: https://www.change.org/p/journalism-is-not-a-crime-free-zied-elheni

B. Circulate the petition, this appeal, and other social media posts, calling on the Tunisian authorities to:

1. Overturn the sentences against journalists Zied El-Heni, Sonia Dahmani and Ghassen Ben Khelifa, among other journalists arrested in violation of their right to free expression, and immediately and unconditionally free El-Heni;
2. Ensure due process during all hearings and trials of journalists; and
3. End the prosecution of journalists and others simply for exercising their rights to freedom of expression, and uphold the articles of Press Freedom Decree-Law No. 115.