Haythem Mekki kept at liberty, pending hearing January 29

Haythem Mekki, a commentator of a private radio station "Mosaïque FM", was summoned, Monday by the Research and Investigation Brigade of the National Guard in Sfax. The Public Prosecutor at the Sfax Court of First Instance has decided to keep Haythem Mekki at liberty, pending his hearing on January 29, said the National Union of Tunisian Journalists (SNJT) on Monday. Mekki is the subject of a complaint filed against him by the management of the Habib Bourguiba University Hospital, accusing him of disseminating "false information and photos of sub-Saharan migrants who were at the hospital without authorisation, with the intention of manipulating the public opinion." During his hearing, Haythem Mekki denied all allegations brought against him, asserting that "the social media accounts where these photos were shared are not his." Members of the executive bureau of the SNJT travelled to Sfax to show solidarity with the journalist. In its statement, the Union denounced the legal action taken journalists base d on repressive laws. The SNJT urged the Public Prosecutor at the Sfax Court of First Instance to dismiss all charges against Haythem Mekki. Source: Agence Tunis Afrique Presse