Journalist jailed in absentia under cybercrime laws

A Tunisian court sentenced prominent journalist Khaoula Boukrim to four years in prison in absentia, in a ruling critics say highlights a growing crackdown on critical voices and free speech ‌under President Kais Saied, reports Channel Africa. The ruling against Boukrim is the latest move against journalists following the jailing this year of several media figures, including Zied Heni, Mourad Zghidi and Borhen Bsaies. Boukrim, founder of the news website TUMEDIA who fled to Paris in December, was informed that two separate judgments had been issued ⁠against her under Decree-Law 54, a cybercrime law enacted in 2022 that includes strict penalties for online publication offences. Rights groups say the law has increasingly been used to prosecute government critics and curb free speech, while authorities say it is needed to combat misinformation and online abuse. ‘I was forced to leave to Paris when I learned that legal cases were being prepared against me because of my critical positions toward the President and those around him. The ruling is a ‌continuation ⁠of the targeting of free journalism and critical voices’, Boukrim told Reuters. The authorities were not immediately available for comment. Rights groups warn of growing attempts to stifle remaining independent voices since Saied dissolved the elected Parliament in 2021 and began ruling by decree. Critics say Saied’s accumulation of power in 2021 and decrees he has issued since ⁠have dismantled democratic safeguards and enabled the authorities to pursue many journalists. The leaders of Tunisia’s main opposition parties have been jailed in the last three years, ⁠along with dozens of politicians, activists and businessmen, on charges of conspiring against state security, money laundering and corruption.