Tunisian blogger in jail for his opinions
- 9 years ago
In this edition: Tunisian web users call for the release of a jailed blogger;
online campaigning for a Jordanian pilot captured by Islamic State militants;
and a death-defying wingsuit flight.
A TUNISIAN BLOGGER IN JAIL FOR HIS OPINIONS
Tunisian blogger Yassine Ayari was arrested by authorities at Tunis airport on December 26, after being sentenced in absentia to three years in prison for defaming army officers. A well-known figure in Tunisia, largely due to his involvement in the January 2011 revolution which resulted in the ouster of Ben Ali, he has remained extremely active online ever since. Online campaigning for his release is now well underway.
His supporters have taken to Twitter voicing outrage and challenging the Tunisian army for bringing the charges against him. Many are saying that people should have the right to criticize the country’s security forces, regardless of their beliefs, and that this case undermines freedom of speech.
Other web users are slamming the fact the case was brought before a military court and not a civilian one. Although not everyone shares his beliefs, they feel he was treated badly, and the trial a disappointment for a post-revolution Tunisia.
As Nasma Kousri Labidi reports for the Maghreb Huffington Post, this story follows another highly controversial arrest, that has also stirred up lively commentary on social media – that of filmmaker Inès Ben Othman, placed in detention on December 19 and awaiting trial for disrespecting a public official, an offence that carries a sentence of up to one year in prison, but is in this case, puts forward the journalist, a trial of opinion.
ONLINE CAMPAIGN FOR JORDANIAN PILOT CAPTURED BY ISIS MILITANTS
Web users from Jordan, and ... Go on reading on our web site.
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online campaigning for a Jordanian pilot captured by Islamic State militants;
and a death-defying wingsuit flight.
A TUNISIAN BLOGGER IN JAIL FOR HIS OPINIONS
Tunisian blogger Yassine Ayari was arrested by authorities at Tunis airport on December 26, after being sentenced in absentia to three years in prison for defaming army officers. A well-known figure in Tunisia, largely due to his involvement in the January 2011 revolution which resulted in the ouster of Ben Ali, he has remained extremely active online ever since. Online campaigning for his release is now well underway.
His supporters have taken to Twitter voicing outrage and challenging the Tunisian army for bringing the charges against him. Many are saying that people should have the right to criticize the country’s security forces, regardless of their beliefs, and that this case undermines freedom of speech.
Other web users are slamming the fact the case was brought before a military court and not a civilian one. Although not everyone shares his beliefs, they feel he was treated badly, and the trial a disappointment for a post-revolution Tunisia.
As Nasma Kousri Labidi reports for the Maghreb Huffington Post, this story follows another highly controversial arrest, that has also stirred up lively commentary on social media – that of filmmaker Inès Ben Othman, placed in detention on December 19 and awaiting trial for disrespecting a public official, an offence that carries a sentence of up to one year in prison, but is in this case, puts forward the journalist, a trial of opinion.
ONLINE CAMPAIGN FOR JORDANIAN PILOT CAPTURED BY ISIS MILITANTS
Web users from Jordan, and ... Go on reading on our web site.
Visit our website:
http://www.france24.com
Like us on Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/FRANCE24.English
Follow us on Twitter:
https://twitter.com/France24_en