In Tunis, state security forces raided the studios of both Nessma TV and al-Quran al-Kareem stations and seized their broadcasting equipment.
Tunisia’s independent media regulator HAICA has closed television station Nesma TV and the privately-owned radio station al-Quran al-Kareem, stating that the stations did not have the proper license, according to a report in Reuters.
The television station is owned by Nabil Karoui – a political rival of Tunisian President Kais Saied – who is currently in detention in Algeria.
Media watchdogs had complained Nessma TV and Quran Kareem were tools of political influence, even before Saied came to power.
HAICA said it had seized “broadcasting equipment” from Nessma TV.
In addition to Nabil Karoui, former Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi is a part-owner of Nessma. Quran Kareem is owned by Said Jaziri, a member of parliament from the Errahma party.
Nabil Karoui was arrested in Algeria in early September with his brother, Ghazi Karoui, for illegal entry.
