Tunisia arrests journalist Mohamed Yousfi in financial probe
Tunisian authorities arrested journalist Mohamed Yousfi on September 4, 2026, holding him in pretrial detention on financial crime allegations.
Tunisian police arrested journalist Mohamed Yousfi on September 4, 2026, and a judge ordered him held in pretrial detention on allegations of illicit enrichment and money laundering. The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) and the National Union of Tunisian Journalists (SNJT) say the financial probe is a pretext to target a critic of President Kais Saied's government.
Yousfi, the editor-in-chief of the investigative website Al-Katiba, was detained by a financial crimes unit as he arrived at the Express FM radio station for a talk show. Authorities questioned him about his work at Al-Katiba, his Facebook posts, and alleged financial offenses, according to the SNJT.
A pattern of targeting critics
The arrest follows an online smear campaign against Yousfi in prior weeks. CPJ's Regional Director Sara Qudah stated the case fits a concerning pattern. "Mohamed Yousfi’s arrest, following an online harassment campaign and questioning about his journalism, raises serious concerns that financial crime allegations are being used as pretext to target another critical journalist," Qudah said.
Yousfi is one of four journalists currently imprisoned in Tunisia in connection with their work. The SNJT and CPJ link their cases to their criticism of the government.
Current imprisoned journalists
The following journalists are currently imprisoned, according to CPJ and the SNJT:
| Journalist | Role | Sentence/Charge |
|---|---|---|
| Mourad Zghidi | Radio commentator | 3-year sentence on financial crime charges |
| Borhen Bsaies | Radio commentator | 3-year sentence on financial crime charges |
| Zied el-Heni | Journalist | 1-year sentence for allegedly "harming others" through commentary |
| Mohamed Yousfi | Editor-in-chief of Al-Katiba | Pretrial detention for alleged illicit enrichment and money laundering |
Health concerns in custody
SNJT President Zied Debbar told CPJ that Yousfi fell ill while in custody and required surgery to remove his appendix. As of the afternoon of September 7, Yousfi remained hospitalized and had not been permitted visitors. CPJ says it emailed Tunisian authorities for comment on the arrest but received no response.
The organization has called for the immediate release of Yousfi, Zghidi, Bsaies, and el-Heni. CPJ says it stands with the SNJT and local civil society groups demanding an end to the imprisonment and judicial harassment of journalists in Tunisia.
