Tunisia Softens Decree 54 Penalties for First-Time False News Offences

Tunisia has amended Decree 54, replacing a five-year prison sentence with fines of 10,000 to 20,000 dinars for first-time "false news" offences, effective Wednesday. Repeat offenders may still face jail. Rights groups call the decree repressive and say it has been used against journalists, activists and opposition figures since President Kais Saied issued it in 2022.