A Tunisian court has sentenced 56-year-old Saber Chouchane to death for allegedly insulting Tunisia’s President Kais Saied and undermining state security through Facebook posts.

Human rights groups and his lawyer described the ruling as shocking and unprecedented, sparking outrage across Tunisia and online.

Chouchane, a day labourer with limited education, was arrested last year after posting criticisms of President Saied online. His lawyer, Oussama Bouthalja, said:

“The judge in the Nabeul court sentenced the man to death over Facebook posts. It is a shocking and unprecedented ruling.”

Although death sentences are occasionally issued in Tunisia, the country has not carried out an execution in over three decades. An appeal has already been filed.

Chouchane’s brother, Jamal, expressed disbelief:

“We can’t believe it. We are a family suffering from poverty, and now oppression and injustice have been added to poverty.”

The judgement has sparked widespread outrage on social media. Citizens and activists accused authorities of trying to silence critics through fear, warning that the ruling could intensify political tensions and further erode freedom of expression.

Since dissolving parliament and ruling by decree, President Saied has faced mounting criticism from rights groups and opposition leaders, many of whom remain imprisoned on various charges after being labelled “traitors” by the president.

While the sentence is yet to be carried out, it has already sparked national and international debate about human rights, justice, and online expression.