Tunisia has introduced amendments to its cybercrime legislation, reducing penalties for first-time offenders accused of spreading “false news” from prison sentences to financial fines. The changes to Decree 54, which took effect on Wednesday, impose fines ranging from 10,000 to 20,000 Tunisian dinars, equivalent to approximately $3,370 to $6,740. Repeat offenders, however, may still face incarceration.
The amendment affects a law originally issued by President Kais Saied in September 2022, which criminalized the electronic dissemination of information deemed threatening to public security or infringing upon individual rights. Prior to this change, convictions carried a maximum sentence of five years in prison. Penalties were significantly steeper for offenses targeting public officials, with potential sentences rising to a decade and fines exceeding 100,000 dinars.
The revised decree has drawn sharp criticism from human rights organizations and media advocates both domestically and internationally. Said Benarbia, the Middle East and North Africa director at the International Commission of Jurists, described the original law as a primary instrument for suppressing dissent and restricting freedom of expression. Rafik Abdessalem, a former foreign minister and senior member of the Ennahdha party, asserted that the decree was utilized to silence regime critics following Saied’s crackdown on the opposition.
Data from the National Syndicate of Tunisian Journalists (SNJT) indicates widespread application of the law. The union documented hundreds of trials involving journalists, bloggers, lawyers, and activists since 2022. In its recent annual report, the SNJT noted 14 prosecutions of journalists between April 2025 and April 2026, with six cases brought under Decree 54. High-profile cases include lawyer Sonia Dahmani, who received a two-year sentence for comments regarding prison conditions, and citizen Saber Ben Chouchane, who was initially sentenced to death for social media posts before receiving a presidential pardon.
International bodies such as Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch, and the European Parliament have condemned the decree, linking it to a broader trend of democratic backsliding since Saied suspended parliament in 2021. Critics argue the move consolidates autocratic power, a view contrasted by Saied’s assertion that his actions are lawful measures to restore order and combat corruption.
The timing of the amendment follows increased domestic and international pressure. Civil society groups, led by Tunisia’s largest labor union, planned nationwide protests ahead of the change, citing restrictions on civil liberties. Demonstrations over the past year have highlighted growing public frustration with economic hardship and political repression. Additionally, U.S. lawmakers have threatened sanctions against Saied and his inner circle for anti-democratic policies.
Despite the reduced penalties, advocates maintain the amendment is insufficient. Benarbia called for the release of all arbitrarily detained individuals and an end to abusive prosecutions. Abdessalem noted that while the change may improve the government’s image, the repressive nature of the legal framework remains intact. Journalists and civil society groups continue to demand the complete abolition of Decree 54, advocating instead for a return to the press freedom laws established after the 2011 revolution.
The fines equal months of average salary. That’s not a penalty; it’s economic warfare against critics.
As a journalist, I’m cautiously optimistic but skeptical. Will repeat offenders actually get time, or just more debt?
Replacing jail with heavy fines feels like a cosmetic fix. The threat of prosecution itself chills free speech effectively.
I’m surprised they didn’t abolish it entirely given the international pressure. What’s the real strategy here?
Fines are still crippling for ordinary citizens. This isn’t progress, it’s just a more expensive way to silence dissent.