The Tunisian government has adopted arbitrary detention as a fundamental tactic to undermine civil and political rights, according to a recent Human Rights Watch report. Since President Kais Saied’s consolidation of power on July 25, 2021, the crackdown on dissent has sharply escalated, evidenced by the unlawful detention of critics under dubious charges, predominantly linked to their political expressions or activities.
The 42-page report, titled “‘All Conspirators’: How Tunisia Uses Arbitrary Detention to Crush Dissent,” highlights how authorities exploit arbitrary detentions to suppress criticisms and maintain control. It recounts various cases of individuals – including lawyers, journalists, and human rights defenders – who have been detained on baseless terror-related charges, with many facing potential death sentences if convicted. As of January 2025, over 50 individuals were imprisoned on political grounds.
Bassam Khawaja of Human Rights Watch remarked, “Not since the 2011 revolution have Tunisian authorities unleashed such repression,” pointing to how drastically civil liberties have deteriorated. Since early 2023, there has been a surge in arrests, targeting anyone perceived as antagonistic toward the regime.
President Saied’s regime intensifies this oppression by labelling dissenters as “traitors” or “terrorists,” clearly illustrating the pervasive environment of fear. Prominent opposition figures, advocates, and journalists, like Abir Moussi and Rached Ghannouchi, have faced imprisonment for their outspoken criticism.
With a harsh legal framework that includes ungrounded charges of terrorism and excessive surveillance, the authorities have violated basic freedoms and overridden fair trial rights. Detainees are often held longer than the legal limit of 14 months pre-trial and subjected to unfounded prolongation of their custody.
Judicial independence has suffered severely due to repeated attacks, such as the dismantling of the High Judicial Council. Defence lawyers face harassment and are often prosecuted themselves, alongside civilians dragged into military courts without proper jurisdiction.
Prison conditions remain dire, with inadequate medical care for numerous detainees. For instance, Chadha Hadj Mbarek, a journalist with disabilities, suffers disproportionately, unable to communicate with family or access necessary medication. Her predicament is emblematic of the broader human rights violations enveloping Tunisia.
Tunisia is a signatory to critical human rights treaties that protect freedom of expression and prohibit arbitrary detention. Authorities must cease the misuse of detention against critics and release those unjustly held, while the international community should press Tunisia to uphold human rights principles. The European Union and other international partners must advocate publicly, reassessing cooperation based on adherence to human rights standards, echoing Khawaja’s urgent call for action against these injustices.
Tunisia’s government has increasingly resorted to arbitrary detention as a means to stifle dissent since President Kais Saied’s rise to power in 2021. A recent report from Human Rights Watch exposes the extensive misuse of detention laws against critics, including journalists and political activists. Despite international human rights commitments, many citizens have faced excessive pretrial detentions, harsh treatment, and prosecution under vague charges. Calls for the release of detainees and action from the global community are urgent as the human rights situation continues to deteriorate.
In essence, the situation in Tunisia illustrates a troubling era of repression where arbitrary detentions have become a primary method for quashing dissent since President Kais Saied’s takeover. The alarming use of harsh legal frameworks to suppress free expression and target critics not only undermines the rule of law but also calls for immediate international intervention to uphold human rights in Tunisia. The call to action is clear: the immediate release of all arbitrarily detained individuals is paramount, alongside advocacy for a return to civil liberties and judicial fairness.
Original Source: reliefweb.int
