In a ruling that has stunned both Tunisia and the international community, a court in the city of Nabeul has sentenced a man to death over Facebook posts criticising the country’s president. The unprecedented verdict, handed down on Wednesday, October 2, 2025, has sparked outrage from human rights advocates and raised serious concerns about freedom of expression in Tunisia.
The condemned, Saber Chouchane, a 56-year-old day labourer and father of three, was convicted on charges of insulting the president and “assaulting state security” under Tunisia’s penal code and the controversial 2022 cybercrime law (Decree 54). His lawyer, Oussama Bouthalja, confirmed the sentence to Reuters on Friday, October 3, noting that an appeal has been filed against the ruling.
“This is a shocking and unprecedented ruling,” said Bouthalja. “The judge in the Nabeul court sentenced Mr Chouchane to death over Facebook posts. This has never happened before in Tunisia. It is a gross violation of basic freedoms.”According to his lawyer, Chouchane is a socially vulnerable individual with a limited education who has been detained since January 2024. Bouthalja described him as a man who used his social media platform to draw attention to his poor living conditions, rather than incite violence or threaten public order.
“He was not calling for harm or unrest,” Bouthalja said. “He was expressing frustration about his life, about poverty and hardship. This punishment is disproportionate and a blatant suppression of free speech.”
Chouchane’s family have expressed shock and despair at the verdict. His brother, Jamal Chouchane, speaking by phone to Reuters, described the sentence as a “double tragedy” — adding injustice to the family’s poverty.
“We can’t believe it,” Jamal said. “We are a family struggling to survive. Now we are confronted with oppression and injustice on top of our hardship.”
Tunisia in Shock as Court Sentences Man to Death Over Social Media Criticism of President
The case was brought under provisions of Tunisia’s penal code alongside Decree 54, the cybercrime law introduced in 2022. The law has been condemned by journalists, lawyers, and human rights organisations as a tool used by the authorities to stifle dissent and criminalise criticism of the state.
“This is the first time in Tunisia’s history that the death penalty has been applied for social media speech,” said a Tunisian human rights lawyer who requested anonymity. “While death sentences have been handed down before, they have rarely been carried out — and never in response to criticism expressed online.”
Tunisia has not executed a death sentence since 1991. For years, death sentences have been handed down only in exceptional cases, and the use of the death penalty for speech-related offences represents a sharp departure from precedent. Critics warn that the ruling sends a chilling message to citizens and could intensify a crackdown on freedom of expression.
The verdict comes amid a wider pattern of increasing restrictions on dissent under President Kais Saied. Since seizing sweeping powers in 2021, dissolving the elected parliament, and ruling by decree, Saied’s administration has been criticised internationally for undermining democratic norms and judicial independence.
Dozens of political opponents, journalists, and activists are currently in prison under charges that many see as politically motivated. Critics say the Chouchane case is part of a growing strategy to silence opposition voices and deter criticism of the government.
Rights groups have described the ruling as a dangerous precedent that undermines democratic freedoms and risks further erosion of civil liberties in Tunisia.
“This sentence is a grave violation of fundamental rights,” said a spokesperson for Amnesty International. “The use of the death penalty for peaceful online criticism is an alarming escalation. It sends a message that dissent will be met with the harshest punishment.”
Human rights organisations, media freedom groups, and legal experts have condemned the verdict as a dangerous step backward for Tunisia. They argue that the decision could embolden further restrictions on online speech, widen the scope of cybercrime legislation to silence critics, and erode protections for freedom of expression.
The ruling has drawn condemnation from a growing chorus of voices calling for judicial reform and respect for democratic principles in Tunisia. Critics warn that without checks and balances, Tunisia risks sliding further away from the democratic progress achieved since the 2011 revolution.
The decision is now subject to appeal, and the outcome will be closely watched both domestically and internationally. Human rights advocates have pledged to campaign vigorously against the ruling and to continue calling for Tunisia to repeal laws that criminalise peaceful speech and dissent.
For the family of Saber Chouchane, however, the ruling is already a source of deep anguish. His brother summed up their despair, saying:
“This is not just a sentence against one man — it is a sentence against freedom, justice, and the dignity of all Tunisians.”
The case stands as a stark test for Tunisia’s judiciary and democracy. Its resolution will not only determine the fate of one man but also set a precedent for how dissent and freedom of expression are treated in the country going forward.
Source- iHarare
