Tunisia: Journalist Mohammed El Yousfi Denied Medical Care in Custody

Women Journalists Without Chains expresses grave concern over the alarming deterioration in the health of journalist Mohammed El Yousfi, Editor-in-Chief of Al-Katiba, who remains in custody despite an acute and well-documented need for urgent medical care.

El Yousfi was arrested on 4 September 2026 by security forces outside the studios of Express FM, moments before he was scheduled to participate in a live discussion on national water policy. During interrogation, he was questioned not only about Facebook posts, but about his journalistic work and the editorial orientation of his outlet — before being remanded in custody on charges of illicit enrichment and money laundering.

While in detention, El Yousfi suffered a medical emergency requiring urgent surgical intervention. This week, the National Union of Tunisian Journalists reported a further, severe deterioration in his condition during interrogation sessions at the Economic and Financial Judicial Pole, after he was denied access to essential medication and medical supplies. His pain reportedly intensified to the extent that a civil protection physician had to be summoned, while his lawyers were left to procure his medication at their own expense.

Women Journalists Without Chains underscores that subjecting a journalist in acute physical distress to continued interrogation and detention constitutes a serious breach of the State's non-derogable obligation to safeguard the life and health of persons in its custody. The line of questioning — extending to editorial policy and journalistic output — gives rise to well-founded fears that financial charges are being instrumentalized to penalize independent journalism and dissenting opinion.

The organization therefore calls upon the Tunisian authorities to:

• Release Mohammed El Yousfi immediately and unconditionally, pending any proceedings conducted in full conformity with international fair trial standards;
• Guarantee his unimpeded access to adequate treatment, medication, and independent medical monitoring;
• Open a prompt, impartial, and transparent investigation into the circumstances of the denial of medical care;
• Ensure his right to unhindered communication with his legal counsel and family;
• Disclose, transparently, the evidentiary and legal basis underpinning the charges against him.

Women Journalists Without Chains holds the Tunisian authorities fully and solely responsible for El-Yousfi's physical safety. The denial of medical care must never be employed as an instrument of coercion. Independent journalism is not a crime — and treating it as one is an affront to the fundamental freedoms Tunisia is bound, by law and conscience, to protect.