Tunisia was shaken on Friday by an unprecedented court ruling after a 56-year-old man was sentenced to death over posts on Facebook criticising President Kaïs Saied.

The man, identified as Saber Chouchane, a labourer and father of three, had regularly posted on a Facebook account named “Kaïs le misérable” (“Kaïs the miserable”), where he criticised Saied, called for protests, and shared caricatures.

The ruling has caused widespread outrage across the country. Chouchane’s family has reacted with shock, while the accused has appealed the decision. His lawyer described himself as “incredulous” following the court’s verdict.

The Tunisian regime has in recent years imposed severe restrictions on freedom of speech and other democratic rights as President Saied tightened his grip on power. However, such a harsh sentence has never before been issued against a government critic.

Death sentences have occasionally been handed down in Tunisia, but none have been carried out for decades, according to Reuters. The case has underscored growing concerns over the erosion of civil liberties and political freedoms under Saied’s leadership.

 Faridah Abdulkadiri

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