Death Sentence Over Facebook Posts Revoked Amid Human Rights Pressure
In a striking turn of events, a Tunisian court released a man who had been sentenced to death just last week for Facebook posts deemed offensive to the president. The case drew widespread criticism from civil society groups and human rights activists, highlighting ongoing concerns about freedom of expression in Tunisia. The 56-year-old, Saber Chouchane , had been in pretrial detention since January 2024, and his release has sparked renewed discussion about the country’s controversial cybercrime laws and the state of judicial independence under President Kais Saied.
According to experts, this case reflects the increasing use of the 2022 Decree 54 , which criminalises the dissemination of 'false news' that could threaten public safety or national defence. Human rights groups have repeatedly criticised the law as a tool to suppress dissent and limit freedom of expression.
Lawyer Oussama Bouthelja confirmed that public criticism played a role in ensuring Chouchane’s release, asserting that the man’s limited online influence and socially vulnerable status were central to the defence argument. Bouthelja noted that the posts were not original content and that Chouchane lacked the capacity to incite widespread unrest.
Background of the Controversial Case
Saber Chouchane, a day labourer and father of three, was sentenced to death for Facebook posts considered threatening to state security and insulting to the president. The posts were reportedly copied from other pages, with limited engagement, and were intended to draw attention to his challenging living conditions rather than incite unrest. Despite the severity of the ruling, Tunisia has not carried out a death sentence since 1991.According to experts, this case reflects the increasing use of the 2022 Decree 54 , which criminalises the dissemination of 'false news' that could threaten public safety or national defence. Human rights groups have repeatedly criticised the law as a tool to suppress dissent and limit freedom of expression.
The Role of Public Reaction and Human Rights Advocacy
The initial death sentence provoked a strong backlash across social media and from civil society organisations. Activists described the ruling as unprecedented and shocking, emphasising the vulnerability of the individual involved. Many Tunisians ridiculed the verdict online, drawing attention to the disproportionate nature of capital punishment for social media activity.Lawyer Oussama Bouthelja confirmed that public criticism played a role in ensuring Chouchane’s release, asserting that the man’s limited online influence and socially vulnerable status were central to the defence argument. Bouthelja noted that the posts were not original content and that Chouchane lacked the capacity to incite widespread unrest.
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