Fri Nov 14 12:36:20 UTC 2025: Tunisia Faces International Condemnation Over Crackdown on Civil Liberties

Tunis, Tunisia – International human rights organizations, Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International, have strongly condemned Tunisia’s escalating crackdown on dissent and civil society under President Kais Saied. The organizations cite arbitrary arrests, detention, asset freezes, and the suspension of NGOs as evidence of a significant decline in human rights and the rule of law.

Amnesty International highlights the unprecedented level of the crackdown, pointing to the criminal prosecution of six NGO workers from the Tunisian Council for Refugees for their work supporting refugees and asylum seekers. The trial, delayed until November 24th, underscores the government’s tightening grip on independent organizations.

President Saied’s power grab in July 2021, dissolving parliament and expanding executive power, has been followed by the jailing of critics and the enactment of a harsh “fake news” law. Within the last four months, at least 14 Tunisian and international NGOs have been temporarily suspended, including the Tunisian Association of Democratic Women.

Human Rights Watch is particularly concerned about the “Conspiracy Case,” where over 30 individuals were “unjustly sentenced to heavy prison terms” in a politically motivated trial. The organization alleges unfounded charges and a lack of credible evidence, calling for the court to overturn the convictions. Hunger strikes have been launched by some of the detainees, including Jawhar Ben Mbarek, a co-founder of the National Salvation Front, who was sentenced to 18 years. Major opposition leaders, including Rached Ghannouchi, the 84-year-old leader of the Ennahdha party, are also joining the hunger protests.

“Tunisia’s international partners should speak up against this flagrant injustice and assault on the rule of law,” said Bassam Khawaja, deputy Middle East and North Africa director at Human Rights Watch. “They should urge Tunisian authorities to cease their crackdown, overturn these convictions, and guarantee fair trials.”

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