A Tunisian man has been sentenced to death for allegedly insulting President Kais Saied and assaulting state security through Facebook posts, in a ruling that has drawn widespread condemnation. The case involves Saber Chouchane, a 56-year-old day laborer with limited education, who was arrested last year after sharing posts critical of the president. This decision, which comes from a Nabeul court, marks an unprecedented legal ruling in Tunisia, where free speech restrictions have grown increasingly severe since President Saied took near-total control of the country’s government in 2021.
Chouchane’s lawyer, Oussama Bouthalja, confirmed that the death sentence was handed down following the man’s posts, which the court deemed offensive to the president. The judgment has been described as “shocking” and “unprecedented” by human rights groups, particularly since Tunisia has not carried out a death sentence in more than 30 years. Although Tunisia continues to pass death sentences in certain cases, the harsh ruling in this instance has alarmed activists and sparked outrage.
The ruling has ignited protests on social media, with many Tunisians expressing their disbelief. Jamal Chouchane, the defendant’s brother, described the family’s suffering as compounded by what he referred to as oppression and injustice. “We are a family suffering from poverty, and now oppression and injustice have been added to poverty,” he told Reuters. His comments reflect the broader sentiment that the death sentence serves not just as punishment but as a chilling reminder of the increasing repression in Tunisia.
Since President Saied’s assumption of full executive control, the country has experienced a notable erosion of democratic norms. The president dissolved the elected parliament and assumed near-total authority, ruling by decree, which critics have likened to a coup. Opposition leaders have been jailed on various charges, and many political activists argue that the administration’s actions are systematically dismantling judicial independence and civil liberties.
Rights groups have condemned the ruling, claiming that it is part of a broader strategy to silence critics and instill fear within the population. The case of Chouchane underscores the deepening political divide and the growing risks for individuals who publicly oppose the government.
Although the death sentence has been appealed, the ruling raises serious concerns about the state of free expression in Tunisia, a country that once stood as a beacon of democracy following the 2011 Arab Spring. If upheld, the decision could mark a significant step backward in the fight for human rights and freedom of speech in the region.
