By Emmanuel Nduka Obisue
A Tunisian court has sentenced lawmaker Ahmed Saidani to eight months in prison over a Facebook post deemed insulting to President Kais Saied.
The ruling was delivered on Thursday after authorities prosecuted Mr Saidani for comments he made in reaction to Saied’s visit to flood-affected communities.
In the post, the lawmaker appeared to mock the president’s public engagement during the visit, writing: “It seems that the new title will be the Supreme Tunisian lawmaker, Ahmed Saidani, and Rainwater Drainage.
“Of course, this is not a mockery of his majesty, nor a mockery of a patriotic man who works as mayor and employee of the sanitation department at the same time”.
Following the publication of the remarks, Saidani was arrested and subsequently charged. The court found him guilty and handed down an eight-month custodial sentence.
