On October 6, Tunisia held elections, which resulted in President Kais Saied’s reelection. Since his self-coup in July 2021, President Saied has systematically undermined the system of checks and balances, taking control of the legislative and judicial bodies, while shutting down other important democratic institutions in the country. In this report, Middle East Democracy Center (MEDC) highlights how Saied’s regime has further repressed freedom of expression in the country by introducing legislation such as Decree No. 54, to silence civil society, independent media, and dissent voices. MEDC urges the Tunisian government to release those imprisoned for peaceful expression and revoke laws restricting free speech. MEDC also calls on the international community to prioritize the importance of free expression and the protection of the civic space in bilateral and multilateral meetings with Tunisian counterparts.

Access the full report here.