Press release
Geneva – March 18, 2024
The appellate court in Tunisia has ordered the arrest of journalist Shatha Haj Mubarak, deferring consideration of her case, as announced by the National Syndicate of Tunisian Journalists.
The appellate court reviewed journalist Shatha Haj Mubarak’s appeal against the decision of the Indictment Chamber of the Court of Appeal in Sousse, which reversed the decision to close the investigation against her. She was swiftly
placed in civil prison in Massaadine, Sousse, raising concerns over the speed and circumstances of her detention.
Shatha was apprehended by Tunisian security forces on Saturday, July 22, concerning a case involving the company “Installingo,” known for its online media production. Since September 2021, the Tunisian judiciary has investigated numerous individuals linked to the case, resulting in 15 incarcerations and others abroad. She faces charges of money laundering and conspiring against state security.
The Committee for Justice (CFJ) has criticized the procedural irregularities and rapid arrest of Tunisian journalist Shatha Haj Mubarak, alleging targeted persecution by authorities and highlighting the ease with which journalists are detained and brought to trial under ambiguous legal frameworks.
CFJ expresses unwavering solidarity with Shatha, demanding an end to her unjust prosecution under arbitrary laws and the immediate release without conditions, emphasizing the necessity of reforms within Tunisia’s press sector regulations.
