A court imposed the term over a Facebook Live video about a raid near Majel Bel Abbes. Her lawyer appealed, but available reporting does not confirm the appeal's outcome or whether she remains detained.
Hajer Awadi was arrested at her home in Tunis on January 23. Six days later, the Judicial Counter-Terrorism Pole ordered her detention and transfer to Manouba Women's Prison, west of Tunis.
On September 30, the misdemeanor chamber of the Tunis Court of First Instance sentenced Awadi to 26 months in prison. According to available reporting, she received eight months for "praising and glorifying terrorism." The court imposed one year for "inciting hatred" and six months for "making threats." Her lawyer, Samir Ben Amor, told the Committee to Protect Journalists that he had appealed. No reliable independent update reviewed for this article confirms whether the appeal was heard or decided.
The case concerns a Facebook Live video in which Awadi discussed a raid near Majel Bel Abbes. Authorities said four suspected members of a terrorist cell were killed in the operation. The video was later removed. Available accounts link Awadi's posts to accusations of glorifying terrorism. They also cite allegations of spreading hatred and making threats. The materials reviewed contained no independent official statement setting out the authorities' position on her case.
Awadi reports on corruption and human rights. She has around 15,000 followers on Facebook.
The legal backdrop changed in October 2026. Reporting on October 2 said Tunisia had replaced prison terms with fines for a first offence under its false-news rules. Imprisonment remained possible for repeat offences. The available information does not establish whether that change applies to Awadi's case. It also does not establish whether the change has retroactive effect. Nor does it show whether it affects the separate charges reported against her.
The Committee to Protect Journalists called for Awadi's release and for her conviction to be overturned. CPJ argued that imprisonment over a social media post penalizes critical expression. The group said it had emailed the Tunisian presidency for comment but received no response.
A review found no case-specific follow-up from Tunisia's Tunis Afrique Presse confirming the appeal's date or outcome. Algeria Press Service also had no such confirmation in the material reviewed. Morocco's MAP likewise had no case-specific update. The materials did not establish an official update from Tunisia's Ministry of Justice.
Awadi was also arrested in April 2020 after posting a Facebook video alleging government corruption. She also alleged poor distribution of basic food supplies during the COVID-19 pandemic. The video further accused police of mistreatment. Ben Amor told CPJ she was released eight days later after receiving a 75-day suspended prison sentence. A prison media restrictions report has described limits on political prisoners' access to independent media.
CPJ said it had emailed the Tunisian presidency and received no response. No confirmed update reviewed for this article establishes whether Awadi remains in custody or whether her appeal has been decided.
