A Tunisian Judge this Saturday ordered the detention of prominent journalist Mohamed Yousfi, an outspoken critic of President Kais Saied, hours after police arrested him in what critics said was an attempt to stifle dissenting voices.
Police arrested Yousfi as he was preparing to enter Express FM Radio to take part in a radio programme, said Zied Dabbar, President of the journalist syndicate SNJT.
Walid Ben Rhouma, a presenter at Express FM who had invited Yousfi to appear on his programme, said police told him that Yousfi would be taken in for questioning, without giving any reason.
Yousfi, also the Editor-in-Chief of investigative news website Al-Qatiba, has been heavily critical of Saied’s policies.
The Judge ordered Yousfi detained on charges of illicit enrichment and money laundering, the state news agency reported, citing a judicial source.
SNJT said Yousfi was questioned about his journalistic work and Al-Qatiba’s editorial line, linking his arrest to his criticism of the authorities.
Saied says he will not be a dictator and that freedoms are guaranteed in Tunisia.
–Reuters–
