Summary
Issam Chebbi, Secretary-General of the Republican Party in Tunisia, was arrested on 22 February 2023 at his home in the capital, Tunis, in connection with what has been described in the media as the “Conspiracy Against State Security” case. He was later handed an initial sentence of 18 years in prison on charges of conspiring against the internal and external security of the state.
Methodology
This documentation was developed following a comprehensive review and analysis of the legal proceedings against Issam Chebbi, tracing the sequence of events in his case from its inception to the present. The Intersection Association for Rights and Freedoms (IARF) based its findings on information provided by the victim’s legal counsel, as well as on reports and articles published by credible and independent national media outlets.These findings were cross-analyzed within the Tunisian legal and constitutional framework, in order to assess the degree of compliance with Tunisia’s international human rights obligations, particularly in relation to freedom of expression, the right to defense, and the principles of a fair trial.
Incident Details
On the evening of Wednesday, 22 February 2023, a number of officers from the National Brigade for the Investigation of Terrorist Crimes and Crimes Affecting the Integrity of the National Territory, operating under the National Guard, went to the home of Issam Chebbi, Secretary-General of the Republican Party, to arrest him. He was taken to the brigade’s headquarters, where he spent the night and was interrogated for several hours about his political activities and his opposition to the current government. The arrest was carried out under the authorization of the Public Prosecutor at the Judicial Counter-Terrorism Division.
After being held in custody for three days, on 25 February 2023, the Investigating Judge at the Judicial Counter-Terrorism Division issued an order for Chebbi’s detention. It was later revealed that his arrest was based on allegations of belonging to a terrorist organization, conspiring against the internal and external security of the state, and inciting the overthrow of the government.
He was transferred to Mornaguia Civil Prison, where he spent the first months of his detention. In the meantime, on 14 March 2023, the Republican Party issued a public statement condemning the treatment Chebbi was subjected to in prison, describing it as part of a systematic effort to punish him for his political stance. The statement denounced his transfer to an overcrowded cell with common-law prisoners and his placement in degrading conditions that violated his human dignity.[1]
On 30 March 2023, the defense team’s first request for Chebbi’s release was rejected. The same outcome followed two subsequent requests, one on 28 July 2023 and another on 21 September of the same year. These repeated refusals, whether explicit or resulting from the authorities’ silence, formed yet another link in the chain of restrictions imposed on him. In protest against these violations and what he described as arbitrary detention, Chebbi announced on 26 September 2023 that he was beginning an open ended hunger strike. The strike continued until 12 October 2023, drawing public attention to what he described as a a trial widely viewed as politically motivated, targeting his principles and convictions.[2]
On 23 August 2023, Issam Chebbi’s family learned that he had sustained a back injury after falling while being transferred from Mornaguia Prison to the Judicial Counter-Terrorism Division. The incident occurred due to the poor condition and inadequate equipment of the vehicle used for prisoner transport, which lacked even the most basic safety and dignity standards. As a result, he was urgently transferred to Mongi Slim Hospital in La Marsa to receive medical treatment.[3]
After a full year in detention with no tangible progress in his case, and amid a continuing media blackout and restrictions on his defense team, Issam Chebbi once again expressed his objection from inside prison. On 11 February 2024, in a joint statement issued with a group of political detainees, he announced the beginning of a collective hunger strike to denounce what they described as the judicial injustice inflicted upon them and to draw attention to their deteriorating legal and humanitarian conditions. The strike included Issam Chebbi, Jawhar Ben Mbarek, Ghazi Chaouachi, Khayem Turki, Abdelhamid Jlassi, and Ridha Belhaj.[4]
Issam Chebbi’s detention has now exceeded one year. Despite being incarcerated, his civil and political rights remain protected under both Tunisian and international law. In this context, on 7 March 2024, the Republican Party announced its decision to nominate Issam Chebbi as its candidate for the 2024 legislative elections, reaffirming his right to political participation even from behind bars.
On 16 July 2024, the party, acting on his behalf, submitted a request to the Regional Branch of the Independent High Authority for Elections (ISIE) in Ariana to obtain a popular endorsement form. Chebbi had officially authorized his lawyer to carry out the procedures and file the candidacy application in his name during a prison visit.
However, the ISIE rejected the application on the grounds of the absence of a specific authorization, disregarding Decree No. 79 of 20 August 2011 regulating the legal profession, which explicitly grants lawyers, under Article 2, the right to submit applications on behalf of their clients. Despite this rejection, the ISIE merely issued a receipt acknowledging the submission without validating the candidacy. This action was widely perceived as an additional violation of the rights of political detainees and a deliberate measure of systematic exclusion from political participation.
In April 2024, the Investigating Judge issued a decision prohibiting all media and judicial reporting on what is commonly known as the “Conspiracy Against State Security” case. The defense team considered this measure another step in a broader pattern of deliberate concealment aimed at suppressing facts related to the case, particularly those concerning the serious violations that have marked it since the moment of arrest.
This decision represented a clear breach of the principles of transparency and open justice, and an infringement on the public’s right to access information about a case that has drawn significant attention both in Tunisia and abroad.
On 26 April 2024, Issam Chebbi announced the start of an open hunger strike to protest his continued arbitrary detention, which by that time had exceeded the maximum period allowed by law for pretrial detention. This situation constituted a clear violation of legal guarantees and a serious breach of international standards on the right to a fair trial.[5]
On 17 July 2024, a delegation from the Republican Party approached the Independent High Authority for Elections (ISIE), continuing the effort launched in March to obtain a popular endorsement form for Chebbi’s candidacy in the legislative elections. However, the ISIE once again rejected the request, arguing that a lawyer could not submit the form on behalf of a client held in detention, particularly in cases where candidacy from within prison is not permitted.
As a result, Chebbi’s candidacy was not accepted, and the Republican Party withdrew his nomination the following day, 18 July 2024. This marked the culmination of a series of administrative and judicial measures that effectively prevented him from participating in the electoral process, reflecting a broader pattern of exclusion targeting political detainees in Tunisia.[6]
In her testimony, the wife of the victim, Issam Chebbi, stated that during his detention he was subjected to repeated acts of mistreatment and severe restrictions. He was placed in a cell that lacked the most basic standards of human dignity: it had no proper toilet, only a hole in the ground to use for his needs. He was deprived of clean water for drinking and bathing, and the cell was heavily infested with bedbugs. These degrading conditions, she added, were similar to those endured by many political detainees during the initial stages of their imprisonment.[7]
Chebbi was also almost entirely deprived of reading materials sent by his family—occasionally, a few books were allowed in, but most were arbitrarily refused. He was further denied contact with other prisoners and deprived of direct family visits from the moment of his arrest, which had a lasting negative impact on his physical and psychological well-being throughout his detention.
After two years in custody, the first hearing in the “Conspiracy Against State Security” case was scheduled for 4 March 2025. Judicial authorities decided to hold the session remotely, without bringing him to the courtroom. Chebbi rejected this arrangement, insisting on his right to appear in person before the court. Consequently, the hearing was postponed to 11 April 2025. However, the authorities maintained their decision to proceed remotely, thereby continuing to restrict his right to defense and personal appearance before the court.[8]
As the court insisted on holding the session remotely, Issam Chebbi maintained his refusal to participate, along with the other political detainees, leading the judicial authorities to once again postpone the hearing to 18 April 2025.[9]
On the evening of 18 April 2025, the Fifth Criminal Chamber of the Tunis Court of First Instance issued its ruling in the same case, sentencing Chebbi to eighteen years in prison.
Following the verdict, on 21 April 2025, the victim released a written message through his defense team and family, reaffirming his continued commitment to the pursuit of freedom and judicial accountability, and denouncing what he described as a politically motivated trial.
Human Rights Violations
The Secretary-General of the Republican Party, Issam Chebbi, was subjected to a series of grave human rights violations that infringed upon his civil and political rights and his inherent human dignity. These violations began with his arbitrary arrest and unlawful detention, in clear contravention of Article 9 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, which states that “no one shall be subjected to arbitrary arrest, detention, or exile.” They also violate Article 9 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, which affirms that “no one shall be deprived of his liberty except on such grounds and in accordance with such procedure as are established by law.” This represents a clear breach of Rule 8 of the United Nations Standard Minimum Rules for the Treatment of Prisoners (the Nelson Mandela Rules), which stipulates that detention must be carried out in accordance with the law and with full respect for fundamental human rights.
The violations also included the denial of a fair trial and due process guarantees, notably depriving Chebbi of his right to appear in person before a court and to exercise his right to defense. This is contrary to Article 14 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and Article 7 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights, both of which guarantee the right to a public and fair hearing before an independent and impartial tribunal. Furthermore, Rule 36 of the Mandela Rules affirms that all detainees must enjoy equal rights to a fair trial, including the right to appeal and to conduct their own defense. In Chebbi’s case, the violation also struck at the core of the principle of adversarial proceedings, which ensures the defendant’s right to confront the evidence and appear before the judge.
The conditions of Issam Chebbi’s detention amounted to cruel and inhuman treatment, marked by neglect of basic facilities, lack of access to clean water, absence of adequate sanitation, and the spread of insects within his cell. He was also deprived of visits and contact with other inmates. These conditions constitute clear violations of Article 5 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, Article 16 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, and Article 5 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights, all of which affirm the right to human dignity and prohibit torture or cruel, inhuman, or degrading treatment or punishment. Similarly, Rules 13 and 14 of the United Nations Standard Minimum Rules for the Treatment of Prisoners (the Nelson Mandela Rules) require that all detainees be provided with safe and sanitary accommodation, adequate food and water, and appropriate medical care in a manner that upholds their inherent dignity.
The violations extended beyond the conditions of imprisonment to include the denial of political rights. Chebbi’s right to participate in public life and to stand as a candidate for election was restricted, in direct violation of Article 21 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, which guarantees everyone the right to take part in the government of their country directly or through freely chosen representatives, and Article 25 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, which affirms the right to political participation, voting, and candidacy in accordance with the law.
His case also involved violations of freedom of expression and access to information, as media coverage of his case was suppressed and key details were withheld from the public. These actions contravene Article 19 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, which states that “everyone has the right to freedom of opinion and expression, including the right to seek, receive, and impart information and ideas through any media,” as well as Article 9 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights, which guarantees every individual the right to express and disseminate opinions freely.
The case of Issam Chebbi illustrates a broader pattern of politically motivated prosecutions targeting opposition leaders in Tunisia. Such practices undermine fundamental civil and political rights and run counter to international and regional human rights standards, including the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and other binding treaties that oblige states to respect, protect, and fulfill these rights for all individuals.
Sources
The Intersection Association for Rights and Freedoms (IARF) documented the violations suffered by Issam Chebbi following communication with his wife on 9 September 2025. The documentation process included a comprehensive review of press conferences and official statements issued by the Defense Committee for Political Prisoners, as well as public statements by the Republican Party. It also drew on multiple press articles and lawyers’ commentaries. This methodological approach reflects IARF’s commitment to accuracy and verification in gathering information to ensure the credibility of its human rights assessment of the case.
[1]Ultras Tunis, “The Republican Party: Issam Chebbi Subjected to Ill-Treatment in Prison, and We Hold Saied Responsible,” 14 March 2023. Last accessed on 9 September 2025.
[2]Inkyfada, “A Year After the Launch of the ‘Conspiracy Against State Security’ Case: What Has Been the Outcome?” 11 February 2024. Last accessed on 9 September 2025.
[3]Mosaïque FM, “The Republican Party: Issam Chebbi Sustains a Serious Injury While Being Transported in a Prison Vehicle,” 23 August 2023. Last accessed on 9 September 2025.
[4]Kapitalis, “Political figures detained for a year to begin a hunger strike starting 12 February,” 11 February 2024. Last accessed on 9 September 2025.
[5]Tunis Scoop,” Issam Chebbi and Jawhar Ben Mbarek Begin a Hunger Strike”, 26 April 2024, last accessed on 11 September 2025.
[6]Ultras Tunisia, “The Republican Party Withdraws the Presidential Candidacy of Its Secretary-General Issam Chebbi”, 18 July 2024, last accessed on 9 September 2025.
[7] Interview with Mrs. Faiza Rahim, wife of the victim Issam Chebbi, conducted on 9 September 2025.
[8]Al Jazeera Net, “Trials of Opposition Figures in Tunisia: Conspiracy Against State Security or Political Purge?”, 5 March 2025.
[9] Mosaique FM, “Defendants in the ‘Conspiracy Against State Security’ Case Boycott Remote Trial,” 11 April 2025. Last accessed 11 September 2025.
