Journalist Zied El Heni was given a six-month suspended sentence by the Criminal Division of the Court of First Instance in Tunis1 after being charged with insulting others through the public communications network, in accordance with Article 86 of the Communications Code.

Lawyer Ayoub Ghedamsi said in a statement to TAP on Wednesday evening that this verdict leads to the immediate release of Zied El Heni from Mornaguia prison, adding that he can appeal the verdict within ten days.

El Heni appeared before the Criminal Chamber of the Tunis Court of First Instance on Wednesday, following a complaint filed against him by the Minister of Trade over a statement he made in a media outlet.

Ghedamsi noted that the hearing in the case of journalist Zied El Heni lasted more than five hours, with 15 lawyers arguing.

Ghadamsi commented that “the defence received this verdict positively, as long as there is no freedom-restricting sanction”.

Source: Agence Tunis Afrique Presse