Second detention order issued for journalist Zied El-Heni
via Business News1 min read
The Indictment Chamber of the Tunis Court of Appeal issued a second detention order against journalist Zied El-Heni on Tuesday, June 10, 2026. The case relates to his tenure on the Carthage municipal council, where he is accused of alleged abuse of office by a public official to gain an unjustified advantage for himself or others, and for causing harm to the administration. Four other individuals are implicated in the case, including one currently detained in connection with alleged antiquities trafficking. Initially, the investigating judge had referred El-Heni to the Indictment Chamber while he remained free. However, after reviewing the case, the Indictment Chamber decided to order his detention. The same body also decided to refer Zied El-Heni to the Criminal Chamber of the Tunis Court of First Instance, where he will appear under arrest in connection with this case.
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Must ReadA Facebook post claiming Libyan authorities closed the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees UNHCR headquarters, expelled Al Jazeera journalists, and ordered the Qatari ambassador to leave within 24 hours has been widely shared. However, no official sources or documents confirm these claims. While tensions exist regarding migration in Libya, and protests targeted UNHCR offices, the UN has denied accusations of involvement in a migrant resettlement project. No official announcement confirms the permanent closure of UNHCR headquarters. Similarly, there is no confirmation from Libyan authorities or Al Jazeera regarding the expulsion of its journalists. Furthermore, no evidence supports the claim that the Qatari ambassador was ordered to leave Libya within 24 hours, with no statements from the Libyan Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Qatari Embassy, or Qatari authorities mentioning such a measure. The claims lack identifiable sources and are not corroborated by official documents or recognized media outlets, making the publication misleading.
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