Abuse of power & retaliationCourts & justice
Tunisian court sentences journalist Zied El-Heni to a year in prison over social media posts criticizing authorities; appeal upheld
Confidence: Corroborated · 2 sourcesTunisia · Oct 12, 2026
Subject of this story
Tunisian Public Prosecutor's Office
Tunis Court of Appeal
Also named
Affected
Zied El-Heni, Journalist
Advocate
International Press Institute (IPI)
Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ)
What happened
Tunisian journalist Zied El-Heni was sentenced on May 7, 2026 to one year in prison over social media posts critical of the authorities. The sentence was upheld on appeal by the Tunis Court of Appeal on June 26, 2026, according to the International Press Institute (IPI). CPJ reports he remains imprisoned, among journalists jailed under Tunisia's information and communication systems decree. IPI and 46 other organizations have called on the authorities to free journalists jailed under such laws.
By the numbers (1)
● confirmed by a primary document · ○ reported
Roles
○
Zied El-Heni was sentenced May 7, 2026 to one year in prison for social media posts criticizing authorities; the conviction was upheld June 26, 2026.
1 source
- International Press Institute (IPI)
Zied El-Heni was sentenced May 7, 2026 to one year in prison for social media posts criticizing authorities; conviction upheld June 26, 2026.
Sources (2)
Committee to Protect JournalistsZied el-Heni is currently behind bars in Tunisia, among journalists jailed under Tunisia's information and communication systems decree.
International Press Institute (IPI)Zied El-Heni was sentenced May 7, 2026 to one year in prison for social media posts criticizing authorities; conviction upheld June 26, 2026. The 47 signatories urge Tunisian authorities to 'free those unjustly imprisoned' and 'end the abuse' of telecommunications and decree laws targeting journalists.
Response
Tunisian Public Prosecutor's Office
No response by publication
Contacted — no response by publication.
Tunis Court of Appeal
Not yet contacted
Not yet contacted for this story.
What happened next (0)
No outcome recorded yet.