New York, October 28, 2026—The Committee to Protect Journalists demands the immediate release of Tunisian journalist
Zied el-Heni
,
and the overturning of his
four-year prison sentence
. El-Heni was wrongfully convicted on Tuesday on terrorism charges for his reporting, and refusal to reveal confidential sources.
“Sentencing Zied el-Heni to four years in prison on terrorism charges for carrying out his journalistic work, and protecting his sources is an outrageous escalation in Tunisia’s assault on the press,” said CPJ Regional Director Sara Qudah. “Tunisian authorities must immediately release El-Heni, overturn his convictions, and stop using terrorism laws and the judiciary to criminalize journalism and intimidate reporters into silence.”
El-Heni was
sentenced
to four years in prison in the so-called “audio leaks” case involving politician Mondher Lounissi, according to a
statement
by the National Syndicate of Tunisian Journalists (SNJT).
El-Heni was
initially
questioned as a witness about leaked recordings he had sought to verify for his radio program, Émission Impossible. Authorities questioned him about his relationship with his sources before changing his legal status from witness to defendant.
He was
convicted
under Tunisia’s counterterrorism and money laundering law on several state-security charges. According to the court, El-Heni was found guilty of forming a terrorist organization, disclosing secrets to benefit a terrorist organization, and failing to report a terrorist offense Additionally he was convicted of communicating with agents of a foreign state to harm Tunisia’s national interests.
El-Heni attended the October 27 hearing remotely from prison. The SNJT
said
he was denied an in-person appearance, and that the verdict was issued without allowing his lawyers to present their arguments, raising concerns about his right to a defense and fair trial guarantees.
El-Heni is already serving a one-year sentence under Article 86 o
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