Tunisia’s National Journalists Union and families of detained journalists Mourad Zghidi and Chadha Hadj Mbarek called on authorities for their immediate release on Monday.
The president of the SNJT union, Zied Dabbar, said that journalists in Tunisia face a grave situation amid constant political attacks and attempts “to make them kneel down”.
“We have never imagined that we would come to the point where we have five journalists in prison and see their families compelled to visit them in prison,” Mr Dabbar said.
“At a time where the official discourse of authorities adopts the central slogans of the revolution [freedom and dignity], we are being prosecuted based on Ben Ali laws,” he said, making a reference to former president Zine El Abidine Ben Ali.
Tunisian courts have used the 2001 Telecommunications Code – which was created under the rule Mr Ben Ali, who was ousted in 2011 – to convict some of the journalists.
Mr Ben Ali issued the legal text with the aim of striking political opponents and restricting freedom of the press.
Rachida Haj Mbarek, mother of detained journalist Chadha Hadj Mbarek, said at a press conference with other family members and union representatives on Monday that her daughter was innocent and has always been a law-abiding citizen.
“Prison is bitter for anyone let alone when someone is innocent,” she said. “My daughter is exhausted and sick as she faces such injustice … She has always considered the law as something sacred but today she finds herself in prison.”
“Imagine seeing your child crying but you cannot wipe her tears because you can only see her from behind glass.”
Chahdha Hajj Mbarek has been detained since October 2021 for charges relating to what has become known as the “Instalingo,” affair. She faces conspiracy charges against state security, disturbing public order and contempt of the office of the President.
Instalingo is a company located in the Sousse governorate and specialises in content creation and digital communication that provides services to foreign enterprises. The government accuses it of being linked to opposition party Ennahda, which is now banned from holding meetings.
A total of 46 people are involved in the case, including 12 who are currently jailed and eight more who have arrest warrants issued against them but are believed to have fled the country.
Ms Haj Mbarek, pleaded with authorities to release her daughter and end what she describes as an injustice faced by an innocent person. “Our family is afflicted by this grave ordeal and my daughter’s heart is aching for her lost pen [writing.]”
Our father’s place is among us and we will fight for him till the end, we are strong, he is strong and we assume [responsibility for] every word he has said
Yasmine Zghidi,
daughter of journalist Mourad Zghidi
The family of Mourad Zghidi say that they still cannot find a valid reason for his jail sentence. “Mourad told us that he has been looking for a specific word [he said] that could be labelled as a crime,” his sister Meriem Zghidi said.
Ms Zghidi repeated calls to authorities to release her brother who she believes is innocent of all charges.
“Mourad is confident that he has not committed any crime against this country but on the contrary, he has always tried his best to serve it,” she said.
Mr Zghidi’s daughter, Yasmine Zghidi, said his entire family stands with him and every word he had said as part of his job. “Our father’s place is among us and we will fight for him till the end, we are strong, he is strong and we assume [responsibility for] every word he has said,” she said.
Veteran Tunisian journalist, Mourad Zghidi, has been detained since May 11 and has been sentenced to one year in jail after a judge convicted him of “defamation and misinformation” over critical statements he made on private radio station IFM and on social media, where he expressed solidarity with another jailed colleague, Mohamed Boughalleb.
Drivers’ championship standings after Singapore:
1. Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes - 263
2. Sebastian Vettel, Ferrari - 235
3. Valtteri Bottas, Mercedes - 212
4. Daniel Ricciardo, Red Bull - 162
5. Kimi Raikkonen, Ferrari - 138
6. Sergio Perez, Force India - 68
Lexus LX700h specs
Engine: 3.4-litre twin-turbo V6 plus supplementary electric motor
Power: 464hp at 5,200rpm
Torque: 790Nm from 2,000-3,600rpm
Transmission: 10-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 11.7L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh590,000
UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE FIXTURES
All kick-off times 10.45pm UAE ( 4 GMT) unless stated
Tuesday
Sevilla v Maribor
Spartak Moscow v Liverpool
Manchester City v Shakhtar Donetsk
Napoli v Feyenoord
Besiktas v RB Leipzig
Monaco v Porto
Apoel Nicosia v Tottenham Hotspur
Borussia Dortmund v Real Madrid
Wednesday
Basel v Benfica
CSKA Moscow Manchester United
Paris Saint-Germain v Bayern Munich
Anderlecht v Celtic
Qarabag v Roma (8pm)
Atletico Madrid v Chelsea
Juventus v Olympiakos
Sporting Lisbon v Barcelona
Smart words at Make Smart Cool
Make Smart Cool is not your usual festival. Dubbed “edutainment” by organisers Najahi Events, Make Smart Cool aims to inspire its youthful target audience through a mix of interactive presentation by social media influencers and a concert finale featuring Example with DJ Wire. Here are some of the speakers sharing their inspiration and experiences on the night.
Prince Ea
With his social media videos accumulating more half a billion views, the American motivational speaker is hot on the college circuit in the US, with talks that focus on the many ways to generate passion and motivation when it comes to learning.
Khalid Al Ameri
The Emirati columnist and presenter is much loved by local youth, with writings and presentations about education, entrepreneurship and family balance. His lectures on career and personal development are sought after by the education and business sector.
Ben Ouattara
Born to an Ivorian father and German mother, the Dubai-based fitness instructor and motivational speaker is all about conquering fears and insecurities. His talk focuses on the need to gain emotional and physical fitness when facing life’s challenges. As well managing his film production company, Ouattara is one of the official ambassadors of Dubai Expo2020.
Temple numbers
Expected completion: 2022
Height: 24 meters
Ground floor banquet hall: 370 square metres to accommodate about 750 people
Ground floor multipurpose hall: 92 square metres for up to 200 people
First floor main Prayer Hall: 465 square metres to hold 1,500 people at a time
First floor terrace areas: 2,30 square metres
Temple will be spread over 6,900 square metres
Structure includes two basements, ground and first floor
Yuki Means Happiness
Alison Jean Lester
John Murray
The specs: 2018 Renault Megane
Price, base / as tested Dh52,900 / Dh59,200
Engine 1.6L in-line four-cylinder
Transmission Continuously variable transmission
Power 115hp @ 5,500rpm
Torque 156Nm @ 4,000rpm
Fuel economy, combined 6.6L / 100km
How to donate
Send “thenational” to the following numbers or call the hotline on: 0502955999
2289 – Dh10
2252 – Dh 50
6025 – Dh20
6027 – Dh 100
6026 – Dh 200
What you as a drone operator need to know
A permit and licence is required to fly a drone legally in Dubai.
Sanad Academy is the United Arab Emirate’s first RPA (Remotely Piloted Aircraft) training and certification specialists endorsed by the Dubai Civil Aviation authority.
It is responsible to train, test and certify drone operators and drones in UAE with DCAA Endorsement.
“We are teaching people how to fly in accordance with the laws of the UAE,” said Ahmad Al Hamadi, a trainer at Sanad.
“We can show how the aircraft work and how they are operated. They are relatively easy to use, but they need responsible pilots.
“Pilots have to be mature. They are given a map of where they can and can’t fly in the UAE and we make these points clear in the lectures we give.
“You cannot fly a drone without registration under any circumstances.”
Larger drones are harder to fly, and have a different response to location control. There are no brakes in the air, so the larger drones have more power.
The Sanad Academy has a designated area to fly off the Al Ain Road near Skydive Dubai to show pilots how to fly responsibly.
“As UAS technology becomes mainstream, it is important to build wider awareness on how to integrate it into commerce and our personal lives,” said Major General Abdulla Khalifa Al Marri, Commander-in-Chief, Dubai Police.
“Operators must undergo proper training and certification to ensure safety and compliance.
“Dubai’s airspace will undoubtedly experience increased traffic as UAS innovations become commonplace, the Forum allows commercial users to learn of best practice applications to implement UAS safely and legally, while benefitting a whole range of industries.”
