Tunisian former adviser sues army

A former adviser for the Tunisian president announced on Monday that he will sue the former defence minister Abdul-Karim al-Zubaidi and Chief of Staff Lieutenant General Rachid Ammar, protesting the prison sentence against him for insulting the military institution charges. Ayoub Messaoudi, said that these charges violate the right of freedom of expression, pointing out that he will sue them before the international court. The former advisor of Moncef Marzouki revealed that he is coordinating with human rights organisations and lawyers regarding the issue. The Tunis Military Court of Appeal sentenced the former presidency adviser a one-year suspended imprisonment. Messaoudi was accused of "outrage upon the dignity, reputation and morale of the army" and of "imputing illegal acts to a public officer without evidence of their truth," following his statements to a private Tunisian television channel on the extradition of former Libyan Prime Minister Baghdadi Mahmoudi.