Key facts
- Tunisian President Kais Saied eased penalties under a cybercrime decree.
- Prison terms of up to 10 years will be replaced by financial penalties for first-time offenses.
Tunisian President Kais Saied has eased penalties under a cybercrime decree following criticism from human rights groups who argued it was used to suppress dissent. The amendment replaces some prison sentences with financial penalties for first-time offenders.
The easing of cybercrime penalties signals a rare concession by President Saied amid growing domestic and international pressure regarding human rights and freedom of expression in Tunisia, potentially impacting the government's relationship with civil society and international bodies.
Tunisian President Kais Saied has eased penalties under a cybercrime decree that human rights groups had criticized as a tool to suppress dissent. The amendment, announced Wednesday, replaces some prison sentences with financial penalties for first-time offenders.
Under the revised decree, prison terms of up to 10 years in some cases will be replaced by financial penalties ranging from 10,000 to 20,000 Tunisian dinars ($3,370 to $6,740) for first-time offenses. Repeat offenders will face six months in prison and a fine of 50,000 dinars.
The previous decree, which came into force in 2022, allowed for up to 10 years in jail and fines up to 100,000 dinars, particularly when the target was a public official. This had drawn widespread criticism from Tunisian and international rights and press freedom organizations, who described it as repressive and used against journalists, activists, and political opponents of Saied. Several individuals have been jailed under the decree.
The authorities have defended the legislation as necessary for combating cybercrime, false information, and attacks on individuals and public order. Saied has maintained that freedoms are guaranteed in Tunisia and that he does not intend to become a dictator. The move comes after civil society groups, including the UGTT union, announced plans for a large national march protesting perceived curbs on rights and freedoms.
Pick the topics you care about. Get only what matters, on your cadence.