In a groundbreaking and controversial decision, a Tunisian court has handed down a death sentence to a 51-year-old man for Facebook posts deemed offensive to President Kais Saied and a threat to national security. Saber Chouchen, a father of three and occasional day laborer, was convicted on charges of attempting to overthrow the state, insulting the president, and disseminating false information online. The court ruled that his posts incited violence and chaos, violating Tunisia’s penal code and the contentious 2022 cybercrime law, Decree 54. This marks the first death sentence of its kind in Tunisia, where dozens have faced severe prison terms under similar charges since Saied consolidated power in July 2021. Although Tunisia retains capital punishment in its legal framework, no executions have been carried out since 1991. Chouchen’s lawyer, Oussama Bouthelja, described his client as socially vulnerable and of limited education, emphasizing that his posts were largely copied from other sources and intended to highlight his dire living conditions rather than incite unrest. The ruling has drawn sharp criticism from journalists and human rights groups, who view Decree 54 as a tool to suppress free expression. Tunisia, once celebrated as a democratic beacon following the 2011 Arab Spring, has seen a significant erosion of political freedoms under Saied’s authoritarian rule. Rights advocates warn that this case sets a dangerous precedent for the use of the death penalty in cases involving online speech.
A court in Tunisia sentenced a man to death for Facebook posts seen as insulting to the president
