Intersection Association for Rights and Freedoms condemns the appellate judgment of 13 April 2026 issued by the Misdemeanor Chamber of the Court of Appeal in what is publicly known as the “Racism 2” case. The ruling reduced the prison sentence of journalist and lawyer Sonia Dahmani from two years to eighteen months, based on statements attributed to her concerning the situation of migrants from Sub-Saharan Africa.

It should be recalled that the defense submitted the necessary supporting evidence, including an official copy of a prior appellate judgment confirming the accuracy of the statements attributed to the victim of the violation. The case was further marked by procedural irregularities and legal violations, as Sonia Dahmani was prosecuted twice for the same statements in two separate cases, in addition to repeated breaches of the right to defense and its guarantees.

In this context, Intersection Association considers that the ruling forms part of an ongoing pattern of criminalizing free expression and instrumentalizing legal provisions, particularly Decree Law No 54 of 2022, to prosecute journalists and restrict freedom of expression, in violation of constitutional guarantees and Tunisia’s international human rights obligations.

Intersection Association further stresses that the conviction of Sonia Dahmani for expressing her views on matters of public interest, including discrimination and racism, constitutes a serious violation of freedom of opinion and expression. It also sends a chilling message to actors in the public sphere, particularly human rights defenders.

Intersection Association renews its call to halt prosecutions related to expression-based offenses and to review the legislative framework governing freedom of expression in a manner that ensures its protection rather than undermines it. It also urges the judicial authorities to uphold international fair trial standards and to refrain from using the judiciary as a tool to restrict freedom of opinion and expression.