A notable satirical cartoonist in Tunisia, Tawfiq Omrane has been released after several hours of interrogation by the state police at Mégrine, near the capital.
Tawfiq Omrane was released after agreeing to appear in a court hearing in Tunis next week. Omrane was detained on Thursday for allegedly insulting the Tunisian prime minister, Ahmed Hachani in his cartoons.
Tunisian journalists’ union condemned the authorities for arresting a popular cartoonist and called for his immediate release.
The authorities said his cartoons were offensive for poking fun at Tunisian Prime Minister Ahmed Hachani. In recent years, the increasingly tyrannical leader, who seized almost all powers two years ago, has had many of his critics jailed.
Omrane has been highly critical of the president in his cartoons and members of the opposition see his confinement as the latest attack on free speech.
