Tunisia radio boss prosecution is 'political'

Lawyers for the arrested head of a private Tunisian radio station said Wednesday he was facing money laundering charges in what they called a "political" case.

Noureddine Boutar, head of Mosaique FM, was arrested earlier this month, which the SNJT journalists' union said was an attempt to "intimidate" the media.

Mosaique FM is the most popular radio station in the North African nation and has long been critical of successive Tunisian governments, including that of President Kais Saied, who staged a dramatic July 2021 power grab in the birthplace of the Arab Spring.

Boutar was one of 10 public figures arrested within a few days, mainly critics of Saied, including members of the Islamist-inspired Ennahdha party.

The radio chief was questioned over the station's editorial line but then charged for "money laundering and illegal enrichment," his lawyers told reporters on Wednesday.

"These accusations are not based on any evidence or linked to any actual crimes," said lawyer Ayoub Ghdamssi. "This is a political case par excellence."

Ghdamssi said Boutar's arrest was in retaliation for Mosaique FM's flagship news debate program Midi-Show, "which upsets the authorities and poses them a problem by hosting free voices who believe in freedom of expression".

Later on Wednesday, the head of Tunisia's main opposition coalition said his brother, also a prominent politician, had been arrested.

Issam Chebbi, head of the Al-Joumhouri ("Republican") party, was detained by around 20 plain-clothed police officers in Ariana, part of greater Tunis, National Salvation Front head Ahmed Nejib Chebbi told AFP.

Following this month's wave of arrests, Amnesty International said authorities were "escalating efforts to crack down on high-profile critics and perceived opponents" of Saied, urging the government to end what it called a "politically motivated witch hunt."

Since Saied seized far-reaching executive powers and control of the judiciary following his 2021 power grab, several prominent critics have faced trials in military courts.

Saied has accused those arrested in recent days of "terrorism" and "plotting against state security" as well as being behind repeated food shortages.