To access the report:Watch out.. Repression has Begun
Intersection Association for Rights and Freedoms has released an annual report for 2024, entitled “Watch out.. Repression has Begun”, pointing out the concerning rise in human rights violations, in Tunisia, with the majority carried out by state authorities. The annual report provides a thorough overview of these abuses, documenting 233 individual cases and serving as a key resource for tracking the state’s ongoing crackdown on rights and freedoms.
The report sheds light on the series of arrests, exposing the resulting abuses and violations of detainees’ rights and the nature of cases presented by the judiciary. It also focuses on cases prosecuted under Article 24 of Decree 54, with a total of 32 violations documented concerning this decree. The state tightening its control over political freedoms, the report details several violations involving 17 individuals who were candidates in the upcoming presidential election, where a number of them were denied essential administrative, mainly the criminal record certificate (B3), in addition to amendments made to the electoral law just months before the election.
The report draws attention to the state’s violations of the right to freedom of expression and its other related rights, such as the freedom of the media and press. It also mentions the unfair trials of more than 9 journalists since they exercised their right to speak freely. The report also covers violations of political and union rights, such as the right to peaceful gatherings, and civil rights. Particular attention is given as well to the trials of staff from non-governmental organizations, with over 40 people being investigated and activists and migrant rights defenders
being arrested. These individuals faced unfair actions and false charges, along with long periods of detention without any real conviction or a fair trial procedure.
The report also exposes the arbitrary arrests, violence, and violations within prisons, and the complete infringement on the right to a fair trial through the disregard of legal procedures and the denial of defense rights, all in complete disregard of the law and the exploitation of it in line with the current government’s policies.
It offers a detailed outline of human rights violations in Tunisia from January to December 2024. It organizes these violations according to the specific rights that were breached, covering a broad spectrum of civil and political rights. The purpose is to provide a thorough examination of the human rights landscape in Tunisia, evaluating the extent to which the state honors these rights and complies with the international conventions it has ratified.
In addition, the document offers targeted recommendations to improve the respect for these rights and ensure the country’s fulfillment of its international responsibilities.
The final section of the report analyzes the patterns of violations categorizing them based on the specific rights that were violated, revealing the persistent and escalating waves of human rights violations in Tunisia since 2021, which have significantly intensified after July 25th, as well as emphasizing the growing dominance of the executive branch over other government powers and the establishment of a legal system that limits freedoms.
The report also discusses the targeting of civil society and human rights defenders, as well as the irregularities during the October 2024 presidential elections, particularly regarding civil and political rights, which amplifies concerns about a systematic decline in democracy.
To access the report:Watch out.. Repression has Begun