Tunisia: CPJ Calls On Tunisia to Release Imprisoned Journalists Amid Deadly Heatwave

What the report says

The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) is urging Tunisian authorities to release three imprisoned journalists — Zied el-Heni, Mourad Zghidi and Borhen Bsaies — as a severe heatwave and reports of deaths in custody intensify concerns about prison conditions. The appeal, reported by CPJ and distributed by AllAfrica, comes amid allegations from rights groups and families of detainees that Tunisian prisons are overcrowded and lack adequate water, electricity, ventilation and medical care.

CPJ said at least 10 prisoners have died in recent weeks, including five in one day in prisons in the greater Tunis area, while temperatures in parts of Tunisia have approached 50 degrees Celsius. The organization argued that the situation makes it even more urgent to free the journalists, who it says should not be jailed for their work or speech. CPJ also called for humane detention conditions and an independent inquiry into the recent deaths.

According to the report, Zghidi and Bsaies have been held since May 2024. After serving eight-month terms tied to their commentary and social media activity, they remained detained under a separate financial case and were later sentenced in January 2026 to three and a half years on money laundering, tax and related charges. El-Heni is serving a one-year sentence under Tunisia’s telecommunications law after an April 24 arrest over a post criticizing another journalist’s prosecution. CPJ said it sought comment from the presidential office but received no reply.