Tunisia appeals court upholds Sonia Dahmani’s conviction amid election coverage crackdown

New York, September 13, 2024—Tunisian authorities must immediately and unconditionally release commentator Sonia Dahmani, following an appeals court decision Tuesday to uphold her conviction for spreading false news with a reduced eight-month sentence, and allow all journalists and news outlets to cover the upcoming presidential elections freely, the Committee to Protect Journalists said Friday.

“The sentencing of Tunisian lawyer and media commentator Sonia Dahmani to eight months in prison on appeal, instead of releasing and acquitting her, is unacceptable because she did not belong in prison in the first place,” said CPJ Interim MENA Program Coordinator Yeganeh Rezaian. “Tunisian authorities must release Dahmani, drop all charges against her, and allow all journalists in the country to cover the elections without intimidation.”

The Tunisian appeals court, issuing its verdict without a hearing and without the presence of Dahmani’s legal representatives, reduced her sentence from one year to eight months.

Dahmani, a lawyer and commentator for local independent radio station IFM and television channel Carthage Plus, was arrested on May 11 over comments that authorities deemed critical of President Kais Saied. On July 6, a court convicted her and imposed a one-year sentence.

Dahmani’s defense team said she had been subjected to a “disgraceful body search” while in custody and forced to wear a long white veil typically worn by inmates convicted of sexual offenses.

Tunisian authorities have tightened their grip over media coverage of the upcoming October 6 elections. Last week, authorities banned sales of the September print issue of Paris-based magazine Jeune Afrique featuring an investigative report about Saied, while the Independent High Authority for Elections (ISIE) prevented journalists from attending the announcement of final election candidates. On August 20, ISIE revoked the press accreditation of Khaoula Boukrim, editor-in-chief of local news website Tumedia, which would likely prevent her from covering the elections.

CPJ’s email to ISIE, and its phone call to the Ministry of Interior, requesting comment on Dahmani’s sentencing, and violations regarding the election coverage received no responses.

Editor’s note: The headline was updated to correct a typo.