TUNIS - Tunisia has jailed a dissident journalist on charges of violating public decency, defamation and assault, drawing stinging criticism from press freedom group Reporters Without Borders on Friday.Authorities arrested Taoufik Ben Brik, a vocal critic of President Zine El Abidine Ben Ali, after he allegedly attacked a woman in the street.
He is being held in custody in Mornaguia, 30 kilometres (20 miles) from the capital Tunis, ahead of his trial on November 19.
But Paris-based Reporters Without Borders said in a statement that the charges are bogus and that Ben Brik is too ill to stand trial.
"Reporters Without Borders firmly condemns the prosecutor-general's decision today to place Tunisian journalist Taoufik Ben Brik in custody," it said.
"These are trumped-up charges designed to ensure that Ben Brik languishes in prison... We call for his release on humanitarian grounds pending his trial," the statement added.
RSF said Ben Brik is suffering from Cushing's Syndrome, a disease that weakens the immune system, and is being denied access to the correct drugs.
"As a result of this serious condition, his health will deteriorate quickly if he is unable to take medicine at regular set times," the group said.
Ben Brik's lawyer Nejib Chebbi told AFP that "the only explanation" for his detention was a number of articles recently published in the French press that were highly critical of the government.
He could face between three to five years in jail if convicted of all charges.