The deputy spokesman for the French Foreign Ministry announced on Thursday that France is “ready” to provide assistance to French-Tunisian citizen Mourad Zghidi, a former journalist for Canal+ who has been serving a prison sentence in Tunisia since May 2024, while confirming that a new consular visit will be organized for him as soon as possible to check on the conditions of his detention and his health. This comes days after an open letter sent by Al-Zughidi to President Kais Saied in which he demanded his release, based on the principle announced by the Head of State that “whoever concludes a reconciliation must leave the darkness of prison.”

Published on: 03/07/2026 - 07:53 Last updated: 04/07/2026 - 21:16

French Foreign Ministry deputy spokesman Glenn Salic announced France's "readiness" to provide assistance to French-Tunisian citizen Mourad Zghidi, who is serving a prison sentence in Tunisia but denies the charges against him. "We continue to monitor his situation closely," Salic said.

He added: "With regard to the French measures taken on his behalf, our embassy in Tunisia and our consulate will stand ready to support our citizen, and several steps have been taken with the Tunisian authorities to ensure that the rights of our citizen are respected." He continued, saying, "France is maintaining a close and regular dialogue with the authorities in Tunisia regarding his situation, of course with full respect for Tunisian sovereignty."

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Visit a new consulate as soon as possible

The Deputy Spokesman for the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs also indicated that "a new consular visit will be organized for him as soon as possible to check on the conditions of his detention and his health condition."

Condemning the decline of freedoms

Journalists Murad Al-Zughidi and Bourhan Bssis were arrested and imprisoned in May 2024 due to radio and television statements that were considered criticism of President Kais Saied. While they were supposed to be released in January 2025 after spending eight months in prison, new prosecutions were opened against them on charges of financial corruption, which led to a new ruling being issued against them, which was confirmed on appeal.

Read also: Tunisia: An appeals court upholds a three-and-a-half-year prison sentence against journalists Zaghidi and Bassis

This week, the former journalist for Canal+ sent an open letter to President Kais Saied demanding his release, based on a principle announced by the head of state that “whoever concludes a reconciliation must leave prison.”

Non-governmental organizations denounce the decline in rights and freedoms in Tunisia since Saied decided to monopolize the authorities in the summer of 2021.

France 24/AFP

This page has been updated after clarification from the Embassy of France in Tunisia

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