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Tunisian comedian and actor Lotfi Abdelli has been sentenced in absentia to 18 months in prison by a Tunisian court.
The ruling, which stems from a theatrical performance from years ago, reportedly includes charges of offending public morals and insulting state officials.
Abdelli, who currently resides in Paris, characterised the verdict as a politically motivated attempt to intimidate artists and silence critics of the current administration.
The sentence comes amid escalating tension between the entertainer and the government.
In recent months, Abdelli has intensified his satirical critiques of President Kais Saied, particularly regarding the centralisation of power since 2021.
In social media videos, the 56-year-old actor has mocked the president’s leadership style, comparing him to a monarch and accusing the state of prioritising the imprisonment of dissidents over addressing the country’s economic and social issues.
Human rights organisations have expressed growing concern over the state of freedom of expression in Tunisia, noting a significant crackdown on activists, journalists, and opposition figures.
While President Saied maintains that these legal actions are a matter of accountability rather than dictatorship, critics argue that such rulings dismantle the democratic gains made after the 2011 uprising.
Despite the prison sentence, Abdelli stated he views the verdict as a badge of honour for his commitment to artistic freedom.
