Human Rights Watch (HRW) has conducted an investigation revealing that the Tunisian government is employing arbitrary detention as a primary tool to suppress dissent, as detailed in a recent report. This tactic is allegedly part of a systemic effort to erode civil and political freedoms within the nation.
According to HRW, Tunisian authorities are increasingly using broadly defined anti-terrorism and conspiracy charges as a pretext to incarcerate critics, political adversaries, and even members of the legal community, such as lawyers and judges, alongside journalists. The report states that, as of April, many individuals remain detained without formal charges or scheduled trials, often exceeding the 14-day detainment limit stipulated by Tunisia’s counterterrorism law. Many detentions occur without legal warrants, and detainees frequently lack access to legal representation or medical care.
Salsabil Chellali, Tunisia director at HRW, criticized the authorities, asserting that the detentions punish individuals based on their identity or beliefs rather than their actions. The situation has worsened since February 2023, following President Kais Saied’s campaign against those he accuses of conspiring against the state. Amnesty International has corroborated HRW’s findings, spotlighting the regime’s neglect for due process and judicial independence. The organization particularly noted Saied’s 2022 dissolution of the High Judicial Council and dismissal of judges.
President Saied’s actions since July 2021, including the suspension of Parliament and assumption of executive powers, mark a significant decline in Tunisia’s democratic governance. Restrictions on freedoms such as expression, assembly, and association have increased, with national security frequently cited as the rationale to stifle criticism. HRW has also disclosed the expansion of military courts to prosecute civilians, a practice condemned by the United Nations. Twelve civilians have been prosecuted in military courts under charges like “offending the president” and “undermining army morale.”
The Tunisian government has yet to formally address the findings of the HRW report. However, previous official statements deemed these arrests as justified measures against individuals allegedly plotting against the state. Both HRW and Amnesty International urge Tunisia’s international allies, including the European Union and the United States, to reconsider their policy engagement with the Tunisian authorities and press for an end to these human rights abuses. For further details, please visit the original report.