Tunisian Lawmaker Sentenced for Criticizing President

Feb 19, 2026

51 min

Feb 19, 2026 23:31

Tunisia lawmaker jailed eight months for criticising president

## Lawmaker Sentenced

A Tunisian court has sentenced Ahmed Saidani, a member of parliament, to eight months in prison. The ruling came after Saidani criticized President Kais Saied on social media, particularly regarding the president's response to recent severe flooding in the country.

## Legal Context

Saidani's lawyer, Houssem Eddine Ben Attia, stated that the charges were based on a telecommunications law that penalizes causing harm through social media. This law can result in up to two years of imprisonment.

## Political Climate

Since President Saied's significant power consolidation in 2021, there have been increasing concerns about the suppression of dissent in Tunisia. Many critics of the president have faced legal action, often under laws targeting the spread of "false news."

## Background

Saidani, who initially supported Saied's power moves and the arrest of opposition figures, has recently become a vocal critic of the president. His comments followed the country's worst rainfall in over 70 years, which resulted in at least five deaths and several missing persons.

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