A court in Tunisia has sentenced a prominent journalist to six months in prison for defaming a civil servant, according to his lawyer.

Both Mohammed Boughalleb's brother and attorney said he had faced charges of insulting a public official.

He was detained in the capital, Tunis, last month following a complaint from the official who works in the religious affairs ministry.

Reports say the official accused Boughalleb of "damaging her honour and reputation" in Facebook posts and in the local media.

Mr Boughalleb, a radio journalist, is known as an outspoken critic of President Kais Saied.

The head of the national journalists' union, Zied Dabbar, said the incident was the latest attempt by the state to intimidate journalists.

The international media organisation, Reporters Without Borders, has warned of growing restrictions on journalists in Tunisia.