Is online harassment a crime in Tunisia?

Answer by the AvoConsulte editorial team

Yes. Threats, blackmail, defamation, insults, impersonation and publishing someone's private images without consent can all be prosecuted in Tunisia, whether they happen offline or online.

Which laws apply

• The Penal Code covers threats, blackmail, defamation and other offences against persons, however they are committed.
• Decree-law No. 2022-54 deals with offences relating to information and communication systems. Its Article 24, on false news, was replaced in September 2026, so check the current text.
• Organic Law No. 2017-58 on violence against women covers forms of psychological and sexual violence and harassment; depending on the facts, it can apply to conduct online and gives access to specific protection measures.

What to do if you are targeted

• Don't pay and don't negotiate with a blackmailer; paying rarely ends the demands.
• Keep the evidence: screenshots showing the content, the date and the profile link or URL, plus the messages themselves. A bailiff (huissier de justice) can make an official record of online content.
• Report the account to the platform, but only after saving the evidence, since the content may disappear.
• File a complaint with the public prosecutor or at a police or national guard station. You don't need to know who is behind an anonymous account: a complaint can be filed against a person unknown, and investigators can try to identify them, although requests to foreign platforms take time.
• Tell someone you trust, and seek support if you feel unsafe.

Be careful when replying

The same texts can apply to what you post. Answering publicly with accusations or insults can expose you to a complaint in turn, so let the legal route do the work.

For your own situation, consult a lawyer; the AvoConsulte directory lists lawyers registered with the ONAT by city.

This answer was written by the AvoConsulte editorial team and gives general information only: it is not legal advice. For your own situation, consult a lawyer.

Sources

1. Décret-loi n° 2022-54 du 13 septembre 2022 relatif à la lutte contre les infractions se rapportant aux systèmes d'information et de communication (texte consolidé, art. 24 modifié par le décret-loi n° 2026-1) DCAF – Base de données de la législation sécuritaire tunisienne
2. JORT : parution du décret modifiant l'article 24 du décret-loi 54 Le Temps
3. Loi organique n° 2017-58 du 11 août 2017, relative à l'élimination de la violence à l'égard des femmes DCAF – Base de données de la législation sécuritaire tunisienne