A court in Tunisia sentenced a man to death for Facebook posts seen as insulting to the president
TUNIS, Tunisia: A court in Tunisia has sentenced a 51-year-old man to death over Facebook posts deemed offensive to President Kais Saied and a threat to state security, his lawyer said Friday.
Saber Chouchen was convicted on Wednesday of three charges: attempting to overthrow the state, insulting the president and spreading false information online. Judges said the posts incited violence and chaos and violated Tunisia’s penal code as well as the controversial 2022 cybercrime law, Decree 54.
The ruling is the first of its kind in Tunisia, where dozens have been handed heavy prison sentences over similar charges since Saied seized power over all branches of government in July 2021.
Although capital punishment remains in Tunisia’s penal code and civilian courts occasionally issue death sentences, none have been carried out since the execution of a serial killer in 1991.
