TUNIS, Tunisia – A prominent Tunisian lawyer and commentator has received a two-year prison sentence due to statements she made regarding the treatment of sub-Saharan African migrants in the North African nation.

Sonia Dahmani was convicted on Thursday for breaching a law that penalizes the dissemination of false information, a regulation that critics contend is frequently used by the Tunisian government to suppress dissent against President Kais Saied. The populist leader has aggressively targeted opposition figures since assuming office, often framing them as foreign agents or accusing them of threatening state security.

The law in question, termed Decree-Law 54, prohibits the “production, spread, dissemination, sending or writing of false news” if it infringes upon the rights of others, endangers public safety or national defense, or incites fear among the populace.

Since its enactment in 2022, journalists and human rights organizations have reported that Decree-Law 54 serves as a tool for the government to limit freedom of expression in Tunisia during Saied’s presidency. Numerous opposition leaders, journalists, and political commentators, including Dahmani, have faced charges for critiquing the government, as stated by her attorney, Sami Ben Ghazi.

In May, Dahmani made sarcastic remarks about Tunisia’s conditions during a private radio show, highlighting the economic struggles and racism confronted by Black migrants in the country. She expressed in disbelief, “What a magnificent country you speak of,” while discussing migrants after violent clashes involving locals.

Shortly after her comments, masked officers in civilian clothing conducted a raid at the bar association’s headquarters, resulting in her arrest.

Ben Ghazi decried the sentence as unjust, framing it as part of a broader campaign of harassment against dissenting voices, while Dahmani’s defense committee labeled her a victim of judicial misconduct and injustice.

In the run-up to the presidential election on October 6, which Saied won with 90.7% of the vote, scrutiny and arrests of government critics intensified. Several media figures, including Dahmani and her colleagues from Radio IFM, Mourad Zeghidi and Borhane Bsaïs, also faced sentencing linked to violations of Decree-Law 54. Zeghidi and Bsaïs were both sentenced to one year in prison in May, whereas journalist and commentator Mohammed Boughalleb received a six-month sentence in April.

Human Rights Watch has pointed out that, under such decrees, critics do not feel secure in their expressions. In a report from last December, it documented 22 cases against government critics.

Tunisia is among several nations where populist leaders have recently pursued laws aimed at controlling the spread of alleged misinformation. From Egypt to Uganda, advocates for press freedom have claimed that authorities exploit rising concerns over misinformation to implement laws that hinder authentic governmental critiques.

The National Syndicate of Tunisian Journalists has publicly condemned the ongoing censorship and constraints on journalistic endeavors enforced by the government.