突尼斯，9月30日——突尼斯总统凯斯·赛义德周三放宽了依据一项网络犯罪法令实施的处罚；人权组织曾称该法令旨在压制异议。
TUNIS, Sept 30 - Tunisian President Kais Saied on Wednesday eased penalties under a cybercrime decree that human rights groups had said was designed to muzzle dissent.
此举是赛义德自2021年巩固对突尼斯大部分政治系统的控制以来罕见的一次退让，发生在由突尼斯劳工总联盟（UGTT）牵头的公民社会组织宣布计划举行大规模全国性游行、反对他们所认为的对权利和自由施加限制之后数小时。
The move marks a rare retreat by Saied since he consolidated control over much of Tunisia's political system in 2021 and came hours after civil society groups, led by the UGTT union, announced plans for a large national march in protest against what they see as curbs on rights and freedoms.
根据该法令的修订案，某些案件中最高可达10年的监禁刑期将被1万至2万突尼斯第纳尔（3,370至6,740美元）的罚款所取代，首次违法者适用。累犯者将面临6个月监禁，并处以5万第纳尔罚款。
Under the decree amendment, prison terms of up to 10 years in some cases will be replaced by financial penalties ranging from 10,000 to 20,000 Tunisian dinars ($3,370 to $6,740) for first-time offences. Repeat offenders will face six months in prison and a fine of 50,000 dinars.
根据此前的法令，当目标对象是公职人员或同等身份人士时，违法者最高可被处以10年监禁，并可能被处以最高10万第纳尔罚款。
Under the previous decree, offenders could face up to 10 years in jail when their target was a public official or equivalent, and could be fined up to 100,000 dinars.
该法令于2022年生效，并遭到突尼斯和国际人权及新闻自由组织的广泛批评；这些组织称其具有压制性，并被用来针对记者、活动人士以及赛义德的政治反对者。数名记者和活动人士因涉及该法令的案件被监禁。
The decree, which came into force in 2022, drew widespread criticism from Tunisian and international rights and press freedom organizations, which described it as repressive and used against journalists, activists and political opponents of Saied. Several journalists and activists have been jailed in cases involving the decree.
当局为该法律辩护称，打击网络犯罪、虚假信息以及侵害个人和公共秩序的行为需要这部法律。赛义德一再表示，突尼斯保障自由，他不会成为独裁者。
The authorities have defended the legislation as necessary for combatting cybercrime, false information and attacks on individuals and public order. Saied has repeatedly said that freedoms are guaranteed in Tunisia and that he will not become a dictator.
赛义德在2021年7月暂停议会后取得更多权力，并于2022年解散议会；其反对者称这些举动是一场政变。
Saied seized additional powers after suspending parliament in July 2021 and dissolved it in 2022, moves that his opponents have described as a coup.