Dozens of journalists in Tunisia have held a demonstration against what they say are repressive anti-terror laws designed to intimidate the media.

They brandished placards outside the national journalists’ union headquarters, declaring that liberty depends on press freedom.

On Tuesday an appeals court jailed a radio journalist, Khalifa Guesmi, for five years – increasing his earlier sentence by five times – for disclosing information about Tunisia’s security services.

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A police officer convicted of giving him information got 10 years in prison.

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Critics accuse President Kais Saied of steering Tunisia towards dictatorship. The media rights group, Reporters Without Borders, said Mr Guesmi’s sentence sent a “terrifying” message to the country’s media.