Tunisian Lawmaker Ahmed Saidani Jailed Over Facebook Posts Mocking President Saied

A Tunisian court’s decision to jail a sitting lawmaker underscores how legal tools are increasingly shaping the country’s political landscape. Ahmed Saidani received an 8 month prison sentence on Thursday after prosecutors charged him with insulting others through communication networks.

The case centers on a Facebook post mocking President Kais Saied, intensifying debate over free expression, institutional authority, and the boundaries of online speech.

Tunisia, once hailed for its post-2011 democratic opening, has seen mounting arrests of opposition leaders, journalists, and critics since Saied’s consolidation of power in 2021.

From Ally To Critic

Saidani’s trajectory adds a layer of political complexity. Once aligned with Saied’s campaign against political opponents, he later emerged as a vocal critic, accusing the president of monopolizing decision-making while shifting responsibility for governance failures.

His arrest this month followed a post in which he described Saied as the "supreme commander of sewage and rainwater drainage."

Saidani was elected at the end of 2022, in parliamentary elections marked by very low voter turnout after Saied dissolved the previous parliament in 2021 and dismissed the government.

Legal Charges And Boundaries

Authorities framed the prosecution as a matter of law enforcement rather than political retaliation. Saidani was jailed on charges of insulting others via digital platforms, according to court officials.

Critics, however, view the ruling as emblematic of narrowing civic space.

This is a violation of the law and an attack on institutions. How can parliament hold the executive authority to account if it carries out an unlawful arrest over critical views.

MP Bilel Mechri to Reuters

Saied has defended his broader campaign as necessary to restore order and "cleanse" the country, rejecting accusations that his measures constitute a coup.

Crackdown Signals Intensify

The sentence follows other high-profile judicial actions. In November 2025, an appeals court sentenced 40 opposition figures, business leaders, and media personalities to prison terms ranging from five to 45 years on charges of plotting against state security.

On Feb. 12, a Tunisian court denied provisional release for jailed lawyer Ahmed Souab and delayed his appeal to Feb. 23 despite health concerns. Human rights organizations argue these cases illustrate a sustained tightening of political controls.

Saied’s supporters counter that courts are applying statutes governing defamation, national security, and public order.

Institutional And Political Impact

The jailing of a lawmaker raises questions about parliamentary function and executive-legislative balance. Tunisia’s post-2021 governance structure has shifted toward decree-based rule, altering how dissent is mediated within formal institutions.

Analysts note that prosecutions tied to social media speech now sit at the intersection of digital regulation and political authority.

Saidani’s case, while legally defined, is likely to reverberate in debates over judicial independence, legislative oversight, and the permissible scope of criticism in Tunisia’s evolving system.