Fearing an intensification of the government’s anti-media campaign, Tunisia’s most popular independent radio station reported Thursday that two of its top broadcasters, both critics of President Kais Saied, had been summoned by police for questioning.
According to the station, police will question Radio Mosaique hosts Haythem El Mekki and Elyess Gharbi on Friday.
Police and interior ministry spokespeople could not be reached for comment immediately.
El Mekki, who hosts a daily show on Radio Mosaique criticizing Saied’s policies, expressed concern this week about the country’s methods of recruiting police after a National Guardsman brutally murdered two worshippers and three police officers earlier this month at a Jewish synagogue.
The government has cracked down on prominent opposition leaders and critics this year, angering Western countries and human rights organizations, including the arrest of Radio Mosaique head Nourredine Boutar.
Tunisians made significant strides toward greater press freedom following the 2011 revolution that toppled dictator President Zine el-Abidine Ben Ali and sparked the Arab Spring.
However, journalists and activists claim that under Saied’s leadership, free expression is under threat.
On Thursday, dozens of journalists and activists demonstrated against press trials and other measures.
“We live in dangerous times.” Attacks on free expression are becoming more common. According to the head of the journalists’ union, Mahdi Jlassi, “about 20 journalists and bloggers are being pursued because of posts or positions against authorities.”
Saied is accused of staging a coup in 2021, dissolving parliament and assuming absolute power. According to a radio station, the police will investigate two prominent journalists.
