TUNIS: A Tunisian man sentenced to death over Facebook posts deemed offensive to President Kais Saied has been granted a presidential pardon, his lawyer said Tuesday.
Saber Ben Chouchane, 51, had been sentenced on multiple charges including “spreading false news,” defense lawyer Oussama Bouthelja said.
Bouthelja said he had filed an appeal on Friday but was later informed Ben Chouchane withdrew it, allowing the presidential pardon to be granted.
The lawyer also said he learned of his client’s release overnight after Ben Chouchane’s family called him and said he was at home.
Ben Chouchane was prosecuted in January 2024 and had been detained since. The verdict was delivered Wednesday by a court in Nabeul, east of Tunis.
