TUNISIA – RSF fears “political manipulation” behind case of jailed journalist – IFEX
(RSF/IFEX) – The second hearing in the trial of imprisoned online journalist and human rights activist Zouhaïer Makhlouf took place on 24 November 2009 in Grombalia, in the northeastern province of Nabeul. He faces a possible two-year jail sentence on a charge of “causing harm to another person by means of public communication networks” under article 86 of the telecommunications law.
Makhlouf was arrested on 20 October after posting a video report on the Internet about environmental, economic and social problems in an industrial area of Nabeul. His conditional release was rejected during the first hearing on 3 November, which lasted just eight minutes.
“We call on the authorities to abandon this trial, which makes no sense,” Reporters Without Borders said. “The prosecution case has been completely fabricated, as it was in journalist Taoufik Ben Brik's trial, the verdict of which is to be issued on 26 November. The charges against Makhlouf are absurd and contradictory.”
via RSF fears “political manipulation” behind case of jailed journalist – IFEX.
