Hajj Maaz Mansoor criticizes the continued suspension of citizens for expressing their views

Tunisian political activist Hajj Mansour, on Wednesday, November 11, 2026, criticized what he described as the constant suspension of citizens from expressing their views. He stressed that these proceedings continue despite amendments to Decree No. 54 on the fight against information and communication systems-related crimes.

Hajj Mansoor, in a post posted on his Facebook account, explained that the Public Prosecutor's Office continues to issue suspension orders for citizens' right to express their views based directly on the provisions of Chapter 86 of the Communications Journal, considering this as an application of alternative legal provisions in judicial prosecutions related to publication and expression issues.

The amendment to Decree No. 54 was officially issued on 30 September 2026, with the amendment including the requirements of Chapter 24 thereof, based on satisfying financial penalties instead of a prison sentence for first time offence, while maintaining the prison sentence in the case of trespass.

The Tunisian arena continues to witness controversy over the regulated legislative system for freedom of opinion, expression and publication, amid a legal and political follow-up to how legal texts and regulated clauses are applied to communications crimes before the courts.