Tunis, Tunisia: Tunisian authorities have arrested a blogger as he returned from a trip abroad weeks after he was convicted of defaming army officers, his lawyer said Thursday.
Yassine Ayari, 33, was taken into custody overnight after landing at Tunis-Carthage airport and was whisked to jail in line with the court verdict pronounced against him.
The military prosecutor said Ayari had been sentenced in absentia on November 18 to three years' jail on charges of having "defamed army officers and senior defence ministry officials".
The blogger was unaware of the verdict against him for "undermining" the army, his lawyer Sami Ben Amor said, adding that the verdict was "very harsh".
"This case undermines freedom of speech and is the first of its kind to emerge under the reign of Beji Caid Essebsi," said the lawyer, adding that "Yassine Ayari is paying the price of his political views".
His victory follows October legislative polls won by his Nidaa Tounes party.
Essebsi is a veteran politician who served under previous Tunisian regimes, including in the government of autocratic president Zine El Abidine Ben Ali who was ousted in the 2011 uprising.
Yassine Ayari, 33, was taken into custody overnight after landing at Tunis-Carthage airport and was whisked to jail in line with the court verdict pronounced against him.
The military prosecutor said Ayari had been sentenced in absentia on November 18 to three years' jail on charges of having "defamed army officers and senior defence ministry officials".
The blogger was unaware of the verdict against him for "undermining" the army, his lawyer Sami Ben Amor said, adding that the verdict was "very harsh".
Advertisement
"This case undermines freedom of speech and is the first of its kind to emerge under the reign of Beji Caid Essebsi," said the lawyer, adding that "Yassine Ayari is paying the price of his political views".
Advertisement
His victory follows October legislative polls won by his Nidaa Tounes party.
Advertisement
Essebsi is a veteran politician who served under previous Tunisian regimes, including in the government of autocratic president Zine El Abidine Ben Ali who was ousted in the 2011 uprising.
Advertisement
COMMENTS
Advertisement
US Slams Top UN Court's Opinion On Israeli Occupation Of Palestinian Territories "Not Preventing Us From...": Israel On Top UN Court's Order On Rafah Top UN Court Order To Israel Over Rafah Assault Will Strengthen Hamas, Says UK Tear Gas Fired After Kolkata Protest Against Doctor's Rape-Murder Turns Violent 150 mg Semen In Kolkata Doctor's Body, Suspect Gang-Rape: Parents To Court 2 French Rafale Jets Collide Mid-Air, Instructor, Pilot Missing Mahindra Thar Roxx's Bookings Start From Oct 3, Deliveries By Dussehra In Assam, Epicentre Of Anti-CAA Protests, 1st Applicant Gets Citizenship Pics: PM Modi's 98-Minute Address Becomes Longest-Ever I-Day Speech Track Latest News Live on NDTV.com and get news updates from India and around the world.