# Tunisia softens ‘false news’ penalty. What really changed, and why now?

https://mins.news/en/item/83435

- Al Jazeera, 2026-10-02 12:03 UTC
- Politics
- Original: https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2026/10/2/tunisia-softens-its-false-news-penalty-what-really-changed-and-why-now?traffic_source=rss

> Tunisia has amended Decree 54 so first-time convictions for spreading “false news” and related offences carry fines of 10,000 to 20,000 dinars instead of a five-year prison term. Repeat offenders can still be jailed. Rights groups say the decree remains repressive and has been used against journalists, activists and opposition figures, while the government says it protects public order and combats online crime and disinformation.

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