Tunis: The National Union of Tunisian Journalists (SNJT) has reiterated its rejection of the continued prosecution of journalists, media professionals and activists under Decree 54 of 2022 on combating information and communication system crimes, which it considers contrary to the Constitution and international conventions signed by Tunisia. In a statement released on Wednesday, following the issuance of arrest warrants for journalists Mourad Zeghidi and Borhen Bssais and the postponement of the interrogation of commentator and lawyer Sonia Dahmani, who is also in custody, the union reiterated its rejection of "the use of the judiciary to impose guardianship over media content in order to silence any voice critical of public policies". The union considered that the prosecution outside the framework of Decree 115 and the procedural deviations that accompanied it constituted a violation of the right to freedom of expression, of the press and of publication, a violation of the rules of criminal procedure and a violation of the duties incumbent on the judicial authorities under Article 55 of the Tunisian Constitution concerning the protection and guarantee of rights and freedoms. It also stressed that the "failure of the current authorities to withdraw Decree 54 and reconsider it in the light of the existence of a legislative proposal to amend it constitutes a systematic violation of the essence of press freedom, a failed attempt to intimidate journalists and those working in the digital space, and a suspicious attempt to undermine public debate, particularly in the context of the forthcoming presidential elections." The public prosecutor's office at the Court of First Instance in Tunis issued arrest warrants for journalists Mourad Zeghidi and Borhen Bssais and scheduled a hearing for 22 May to examine the case under Article 24(1) of Decree 54 of 2022 on combating crimes against information and communication systems. They were charged with "intentionally using information and communication networks and systems to produce, promote, publish, transmit, send or prepare false news, data, rumours or documents that are fabricated, forged or falsely attributed to others with the aim of violating the rights of others, harming public security or national defence, or spreading terror among the population". This is punishable by up to 5 years in prison. Source: Agence Tunis Afrique Presse