Human Rights Watch (HRW) issued a strong condemnation against the Tunisian justice system’s recent decision to sentence a man to death over nonviolent dissent expressed on Facebook. The subject of this severe judgement, Saber Ben Chouchane, was targeted for his social media activity, which included images and statements urging Tunisians to protest for the release of political prisoners, coinciding with the anniversary of the 2011 Tunisian revolution.

HRW’s critique highlighted the harsh penalty handed down by the Nabeul Court of First Instance on October 1, under penal code Article 72. Although Chouchane received a presidential pardon a week later, the initial sentencing sent a stark warning about the intolerance for criticism in Tunisia, according to HRW. The rights group also noted that Chouchane was detained longer than the 14-month legal limit without necessary medical care for an existing injury.

The organization stressed that such actions violate international commitments, reminding that Tunisia is a signatory to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights. These agreements uphold the principles of freedom of expression and assembly, fair trial, and protection from arbitrary arrest.

Chouchane’s arrest occurred on January 22, 2024, while en route to a medical appointment. He faced charges under multiple penal codes: Article 72 and 67 for attempting to change the government structure and insulting the president, respectively, and Article 24 of the new Decree-Law 54 on Cybercrime for spreading false information.

This legal action comes amidst growing scrutiny of Tunisia’s government under President Kais Saied, who took office in 2021. Since then, international human rights bodies have repeatedly expressed concerns over the erosion of judicial independence and freedom of the press in the country. These developments mark a troubling shift in a nation once hailed as a beacon of democratic progress in the Arab world following its 2011 revolution.

The full report by HRW and further details on the deteriorating situation in Tunisia can be found on their official [website](https://www.hrw.org/news/2025/10/08/tunisia-death-sentence-for-facebook-posts) and additional coverage by JURIST at [JURIST - News](https://www.jurist.org/news).