Tunisian blogger jailed for 26 months over a Facebook Live video
Hajer Awadi was convicted of glorifying terrorism, inciting hatred and making threats after speaking about a security operation. A press freedom group calls it punishment for criticism.
Tunis — A court in Tunis has sentenced the blogger and political activist Hajer Awadi to 26 months in prison over a video she broadcast on Facebook, the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) reports.
The misdemeanour chamber of the Tunis Court of First Instance handed down the sentence on 30 September. It is made up of eight months for "praising and glorifying terrorism", one year for "inciting hatred" and six months for "making threats".
The video
The charges stem from a Facebook Live broadcast about a security operation in Majel Bel Abbes, in central-west Tunisia, in which the authorities say four suspected terrorists were killed. The video has since been removed.
Awadi, who has about 15,000 followers on Facebook, reports on corruption and human rights. She was arrested at her home in Tunis on 23 January and has been held at Manouba Women's Prison since 29 January. Her lawyer is Samir Ben Amor.
"Punish critical expression"
"Sentencing Hajer Awadi to more than two years in prison over a social media post is yet another example of Tunisian authorities using the criminal justice system to punish critical expression," said Sara Qudah, CPJ's regional director.
It is not her first arrest. In April 2020 she was held for eight days after posting about alleged corruption and problems with the distribution of food during the Covid-19 pandemic.
Rights groups say prosecutions of journalists, lawyers and critics in Tunisia have multiplied in recent years.
This report is based on reporting by the Committee to Protect Journalists, via AllAfrica.
