Saloua Ghrissa

Summary

Saloua Ghrissa, a retired university professor and a strong advocate for Human Rights, serves the position of Executive Director of the Association for the Promotion of the Right to Difference, was imprisoned, due to her activism and the association’s work.

Personal Information

Name: Saloua Ghrissa

Occupation:  Executive Director of the Association for the Promotion of the Right to Difference (ADD).

Violation incidents

Given the ongoing violations and coordinated restrictions that have affected associations and other components of civil society, especially those dedicated to Human Rights over the years, on December 9, 2024, Saloua Ghrissa was summoned, as Executive Director of the Association for the Promotion of the Right to Difference, to appear before the Sub Directorate of Economic and Financial Investigations in El Gorjani for questioning. She was released and asked to return the next day on December 10, 2024, to proceed with the investigation, where it was decided to detain her for 48 hours and take her to the detention center of Bouchoucha.

On December 12, 2024, she was presented to the Public Prosecutor at the Court of First Instance of Bizerte, who ordered an investigation assigned to the investigative judge against "Saloua Ghrissa" and any other individuals implicated during the investigation.

Following the investigation, a detention order was issued against her, and she was taken to the prison of Manouba on charges regarding her involvement with the Association for the Promotion of the Right to Difference. However this case of violation was accompanied by a series of false claims that were circulated to the public, which helped vilify Human Rights defenders, comparing them to convicts and disputing the right to presumption of innocence that every citizen facing trial possesses. Additionally, the defense for the victim stated that the media related and legal distortions in this case violate Saloua Ghrissa's right to a fair trial and negatively affect the course of justice.

Lawyer, Anas Kaddoussi, in his statement for Intersection Association for Rights and Freedoms, emphasized several key points, the main point was that the funding received by the association (ADD) went through legal channels, with supporting documents in accordance with proper procedures and laws.

As for the claims made by the media and certain social media pages concerning the “ financial transfers from suspicious and questionable foreign organizations”, the case’s defense stressed that the funding provided to the association came from organizations linked to the United Nations and other organizations operating in Tunisia. Additionally, these organizations work with state institutions and follow the relevant laws.The defense also mentioned that the association's projects follow the rules of Decree No. 88 of 2011, and any minor violations would lead to warnings, not prison sentences.

Human Rights violations

Saloua Ghrissa’s arrest and imprisonment were part of a wider pattern of actions against civil society activists and association presidents, which reflect the state’s attempts to restrict and penalize civil activism, intending to eliminate it by leveraging all available judicial and security resources. As a result, it puts Human Rights defenders and members of civil society in a position of condemnation in the eyes of the current ruling authority.

In this case, along with incitement and consistent media distortions that impacted the course of justice, the victim’s rights were violated, particularly her right to a fair trial, a fundamental human right which ensures that citizens are prosecuted based on their specific actions and legal standards.

Additionally, as stated in Article 10 of the universal Declaration of Human Rights “Everyone, without discrimination, has the right to have their case heard by an independent and impartial tribunal, to a fair and public hearing, for the determination of their rights and obligations, and of any criminal charge against them.”

Furthermore, Article 14, paragraph 2, of International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights declares “Everyone shall be entitled to a fair and public hearing by a competent, independent, and impartial tribunal established by law.”

Also, the Tunisian Constitution of 2022 affirms in Article 33 that the accused is innocent until proven guilty in a fair trial, with all defense guarantees provided during the investigation and trial.

Following the principles set in Article 10 of the universal Declaration of Human Rights, Article 14, of International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, and the Tunisian Constitution, Intersection Association of Rights and Freedoms asserts the need for a fair trial, without discrimination, that protects the defendant's rights without any purpose of vengeance or unfairness.