Tunisian Laborer Released Following Global Outrage Over Facebook Posts
A 56-year-old Tunisian man who was sentenced to death last week for critical Facebook posts about President Kais Saied has been released from custody, his lawyer confirmed to Reuters. The release of Saber Chouchane comes after widespread international condemnation and pressure from human rights organizations.
Unprecedented Death Sentence Sparks Global Backlash
Chouchane, a day laborer with limited education, was convicted by a court in Nabeul on October 1, 2025, for posting critical comments about President Saied on Facebook. The charges included insulting the president, undermining state security, and spreading false information about a public official. "The judge sentenced the man to death because of Facebook posts. It is a shocking and unprecedented ruling," his lawyer Oussama Bouthalja told reporters.
The case marked the first time Tunisia had issued a death sentence for social media posts, despite the country maintaining a de facto moratorium on executions since 1991. According to human rights organization HuMENA, Chouchane's posts had limited reach, with only a few dozen followers seeing his content, much of which was reportedly copied from other websites.
Growing Concerns Over Freedom of Expression
Since President Saied came to power in 2019 and consolidated authority through what many describe as a self-coup in 2021, freedom of expression in Tunisia has deteriorated significantly. Human Rights Watch documented that Tunisian authorities have intensified political repression, with over 80 people detained on political grounds in 2024 alone.
"This verdict represents a structural breakdown that criminalizes political speech and uses the judiciary as a tool of reprisal," stated HuMENA in their condemnation of the original sentence. The organization had demanded immediate annulment of the death penalty and comprehensive legal reforms.
International Pressure Leads to Release
The release follows days of mounting international pressure and social media campaigns calling for Chouchane's freedom. The judge who imposed the death sentence has reportedly been removed from his position, according to the head of a Tunisian human rights organization who spoke to Facebook.
Chouchane, described by his lawyer as a simple worker with limited education, was arrested last year after posting satirical and critical comments about President Saied. His Facebook account, operating under the pseudonym "Qais al-Taees" or "Kaïs le misérable," featured caricatures and calls for protests against the president.
Broader Implications for Tunisian Democracy
The case highlights the ongoing democratic backsliding in Tunisia, once considered the Arab Spring's success story. According to Freedom House, Tunisia is now rated as 'Partly Free' with a score of 44/100, reflecting significant deterioration in political rights and civil liberties under President Saied's administration.
While Chouchane's release represents a victory for free speech advocates, it remains unclear whether the case has been completely dismissed or if charges still stand. The development comes amid growing international concern about human rights in Tunisia, with the United Nations Human Rights Office recently calling on Tunisian authorities to end all forms of persecution against opponents and activists.
The case has drawn attention to the increasing use of Tunisia's legal system to target government critics, with many viewing the original death sentence as an attempt to intimidate Saied's opponents and further suppress political dissent in the country.