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The Digest:

In a stark reversal of its democratic gains, a Tunisian court has sentenced a day labourer to death for social media posts critical of President Kais Saied. According to Reuters, the shocking ruling against 56-year-old Sabre Chouchane, reported by his lawyer, marks an unprecedented use of state power against free speech in the nation once celebrated as the birthplace of the Arab Spring.

Key Points:
  • The Nabeul court issued the death penalty for "insulting the president" and undermining state security.
  • The accused, Sabre Chouchane, is a day labourer with limited formal education.
  • His lawyer stated the charges stemmed solely from critical Facebook posts.
  • The ruling has been appealed amid widespread condemnation.
  • Tunisia's path has shifted dramatically since President Saied's constitutional changes.
  • His administration has been accused of a widespread crackdown on dissent.
  • The case symbolizes the erosion of post-revolution freedoms in the North African nation.
This verdict reveals how nations navigate storms not just of political change, but of silencing dissent and the fragility of hard-won freedoms.

Sources: Reuters, TheCable