Tunisian Man Sentenced To Death For Criticizing President Saied On Facebook

A Tunisian court has sentenced 56-year-old day labourer Saber Chouchane to death for allegedly insulting President Kais Saied and threatening state security through Facebook posts, a verdict that has drawn widespread condemnation from human rights advocates and citizens alike.

Chouchane, who has limited education, was arrested last year after sharing critical comments about President Saied online. His lawyer, Oussama Bouthalja, described the ruling as “shocking and unprecedented,” saying it marked a dangerous escalation in Tunisia’s crackdown on dissent.

“The judge in the Nabeul court sentenced the man to death over Facebook posts. It is a shocking and unprecedented ruling,” Bouthalja said, confirming that an appeal has already been filed.

Tunisia still hands down death sentences, but no execution has taken place in more than three decades.

Chouchane’s brother, Jamal, said the family was devastated by the news. “We can’t believe it. We are a family suffering from poverty, and now oppression and injustice have been added to poverty,” he said.

The decision has sparked outrage across Tunisia and social media, with many accusing the government of silencing critics through intimidation and fear. Activists and opposition figures warned that the verdict could further damage Tunisia’s reputation and deepen concerns about freedom of speech.

Since dissolving parliament and assuming near-total power in 2021, President Saied has faced mounting criticism from opposition leaders and rights organizations. Many of his political opponents and critics remain detained on various charges, after being labelled “traitors” by the president.

While it remains unclear whether the death sentence will be enforced, the case has reignited fierce debate over Tunisia’s human rights record, the independence of its judiciary, and the government’s growing intolerance for dissenting voices online.