Tunisia Jails MP for Mocking President, Free-Speech Concerns Grow

A Tunisian court has sentenced lawmaker Ahmed Saidani to eight months in prison over social media comments mocking President Kais Saied, a ruling that has renewed debate over political freedoms in Tunisia and the shrinking space for dissent.

Saidani was convicted under legislation that criminalises online insults through digital communication networks.

The charges stemmed from a Facebook post in which he used sarcasm to criticise the president’s handling of governance and public administration. Prosecutors argued the comments crossed legal limits on freedom of expression and amounted to an offence punishable by imprisonment.

• Tunisia jails MP for mocking president, raising free-speech concerns
• Tunisia court sentences Ahmed Saidani to prison over Facebook comments
• Rising political freedoms debate in Tunisia following MP’s prison sentence

The lawmaker, elected in the 2022 parliamentary elections, had previously supported Saied before becoming openly critical of the president’s power consolidation. He was detained earlier this month following a complaint linked to the online remarks and remained in custody until the verdict was delivered.

Opposition figures and civil rights advocates condemned the ruling, warning that it undermines parliamentary independence and democratic debate. Several lawmakers said the decision sends a signal that criticism of the executive can result in jail time, raising questions about the role of parliament in holding the presidency to account. Lawyers supporting Saidani said they plan to appeal the sentence through the courts.

Tunisia’s political environment has been under strain since 2021, when Saied dismissed the government, dissolved the previous parliament and began ruling by decree. The moves were later formalised through constitutional changes and elections that saw low voter turnout. Critics have described the process as a rollback of democratic safeguards, while supporters say it restored stability to a stalled political system.

The jailing of Saidani adds to a growing list of cases involving politicians, journalists and activists accused of speech-related offences. Human rights groups have expressed concern that such prosecutions reflect the increasing use of the judiciary to curb criticism.

Saied has rejected accusations of authoritarianism, insisting that courts operate independently and that laws apply equally to all citizens. He maintains that protecting public order and preventing defamation are legitimate state responsibilities.

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The case underscores the continuing tension between state authority and political expression in a country once viewed as a symbol of democratic transition after the Arab Spring.