“Decree-Law 2022-14, which went into effect on 21 March 2022, contains vaguely worded provisions that could lead to prison terms of between ten years and life … for public debate of the economy,” Amnesty said.
The decree outlaws the spread of “false or incorrect news or information” that stops consumers from buying, and therefore contributes to price rises.
“While acts to influence markets through fraudulent means are legitimate grounds for concern, sweeping laws such as decree-Law 2022-14 open the door to unfair and abusive prosecutions,” Amnesty said.
The law comes amidst a major food crisis in the same region that was once the bread basket of ancient Rome. Staples like grain and sugar are becoming increasingly scarce, especially with the war in Ukraine disrupting one of the world's other major grain producers.
“Tunisia is already suffering a long-standing economic and financial crisis.” said Amna Guellali, Deputy Regional Director for the Middle East and North Africa at Amnesty International. “It is more important than ever that people in the country be free to discuss and debate the issues that affect them, including food security and goods supplies, without fear of prosecutions.”
“Instead of seeking to criminalize those who express themselves freely about good supplies, the authorities should step up their efforts to ensure that they disseminate reliable, accessible, and trustworthy information as the best way to counter misinformation and protect human rights,” she added.
More often than not, instead of protecting the public, such opacity only allows corruption and organized crime to fester. Shortages and scarcity already makes an environment particularly welcoming for criminality to exploit.
Decree-Law 2022-14 risks creating a chilling effect that dissuades people from openly discussing food supplies and food security for fear of reprisal, said Guellali.
