In Tunisia, a new citizen initiative has reignited the debate on civil liberties. A petition calling for the repeal of Decree-Law 54 on combating crimes related to information and communication systems is gaining traction in political, media, and community circles.
Launched against a backdrop of institutional tension and a rise in prosecutions for social media posts, this petition marks a turning point: that of an open and cross-cutting mobilization in defense of freedom of expression.

Decree-Law 54: a freedom-killing text 

Adopted on September 13, 2022, by President Kaïs Saïed, Decree-Law 54 was initially presented as a tool to combat cybercrime, computer hacking, and attacks on information systems.
However, its scope quickly expanded far beyond these technical objectives.
Article 24, in particular, provides for a penalty of up to five years in prison and a fine of 50,000 dinars for the dissemination of "false information" that undermines public order or the rights of others, with the penalty doubled if the target is a public official.
Many lawyers and parliamentarians have denounced the wording as vague, open to broad interpretation, and paving the way for the criminalization of critical expression.

A shared concern: 

There is growing societal consensus around the need to review, or even repeal, Decree-Law 54. Its application has not been limited to media professionals: hundreds of young people have been prosecuted for simple posts on social media.

Citizens expressing social demands, criticizing public administrations, or voicing political opinions have found themselves exposed to criminal prosecution. The extension of the scope of the law has had devastating effects: repeated summonses, police custody, prolonged pre-trial detention, prison sentences, a climate of self-censorship in the media and on digital platforms, a weakening of public debate, and the normalization of fear.
Beyond individual cases, the extensive use of Article 24 has contributed to undermining confidence in the judicial institution and exacerbating political tensions. Families have been destabilized, careers ruined, and journalists and activists silenced or forced into exile.

This concern is no longer limited to human rights organizations. It is now being voiced even within the parliament that emerged from the current process, one of whose members has just been convicted, illustrating the extent to which repression can spread indiscriminately. A draft amendment was tabled by several members of parliament from different political backgrounds, but it remained blocked, without being included on the agenda for debate. Maintaining the status quo thus prolongs a legal framework whose effects continue to weigh heavily on civil liberties.

Press and civil society on alert 

At the same time, citizens and journalists launched another petition to defend press independence and denounce the pressure exerted on public media.
The signatories mention:

repeated interference in editorial policies;
marginalization of regulatory bodies;
use of Decree 54 and other legislation to prosecute journalists.

They also warn against the use of provisions such as Article 67 of the Criminal Code relating to "insulting the head of state," as well as the invocation of anti-terrorism or telecommunications legislation to bring prosecutions.

A heavy and stifling atmosphere 

The debate surrounding Decree 54 is part of the political sequence that began with the coup d'état of July 25, 2021, when Kaïs Saïed suspended Parliament, governed by decree, and initiated a unilateral process.
For his supporters, these measures are part of a "correction of the revolutionary process."
For his detractors, they have accelerated the concentration of power and weakened institutional checks and balances.
In this polarized climate, the petition to repeal Decree 54 appears to be a call for détente and the restoration of effective guarantees for freedom of expression.

A civic act to be commended 

Beyond partisan divisions, this petition is a powerful civic act. It reminds us that freedom of expression is not a privilege reserved for journalists or politicians, but a fundamental right guaranteed by international conventions ratified by Tunisia.
It also raises a key question: can we combat misinformation without undermining freedoms?
In welcoming this initiative, we are not denying the need to regulate digital usage. We are affirming that no regulation can be achieved at the cost of fear, self-censorship, or imprisonment for a Facebook status.
The democratic vitality of a country is measured by its ability to tolerate criticism, protect dissenting voices, and guarantee open public debate.
The petition to repeal Decree 54 is part of this requirement. It deserves to be heard—and discussed publicly.

This mobilization reached an important milestone on Thursday, February 12, 2026, during the first meeting of the petition's signatories, held at the headquarters of the Tunisian Forum for Economic and Social Rights (FTDES). Recognizing the desire to transform a petition—which has already surpassed 1,000 signatures—into a truly structured citizen movement, discussions focused on the worrying decline in civil liberties alongside the country's economic and social deterioration, and on the need to broaden the demands beyond simply denouncing imprisonment to include sectors in crisis such as the media, justice, health, and education. 

The signatories decided to organize an "open day" dedicated to the state of the media in Tunisia, as well as a citizens' march under the slogan "We want public media, not government media," starting from the headquarters of the Journalists' Union and ending at the national radio station, in support of journalists facing pressure. Three committees were also proposed—monitoring, public relations, and communication—to structure the action, broaden alliances with civil society, and maintain an active presence in the public sphere. The stated objective is clear: to create new peaceful power relations to defend the gains that still exist and prevent any further erosion of freedoms.

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