The African Editors Forum (TAEF) is calling on the Tunisian authorities to release immediately, veteran journalist Zied El Heni who is being held in detention for expressing his views on governance issues.
In a statement issued Monday April 27, 2026 and signed by its President, Churchill Otieno, TAEF expressed deep concern and unwavering solidarity with El Heni following his arrest and detention.
Citing reports by the Public Prosecutor’s Office at the Court of First Instance in Tunis which said the office authorised the Cybercrime Brigade in El Aouina to place El Heni in custody on Friday, April 24, an action following a summons he received regarding a post shared on his official Facebook account. TAEF pointed out that El Heni has a long-standing reputation for his commitment to public discourse and media freedom.
“His detention for merely expressing his opinion on social media is a troubling escalation in the use of cybercrime legislation to silence journalistic voices,” the statement said.
TAEF highlighted the following:
Freedom of Expression: Expressing an opinion on social platforms is a fundamental right, not a criminal act.
Misuse of Legislation: The deployment of the Fifth Central Brigade for Combating Information and Communication Technology Crimes against a journalist for a social media post sets a dangerous precedent for press freedom in the country and the region.
A Call for Unity: TAEF calls upon all members of the African media landscape and international human rights organisations to stand in defense of Zied El Heni.
TAEF further urged the Tunisian authorities to respect the principles of free speech and the protections afforded to journalists and release El Heni immediately.
“We will continue to monitor the situation closely and advocate for the protection of our colleagues across the continent,” it added.
