Seif Ayadi

Summary

Seif Ayadi is a Queer activist and human rights advocate. He has faced a series of intimidations due to his support for the LGBTQIA+ community and advocacy for human rights. He was assaulted in August 2020 after defending activists from the LGBTQIA+ community who had been subjected to violence. In October 2020, he was assaulted and arrested for participating in a protest in front of the Parliament. Again, in December, he participated in a protest movement in front of the Parliament to denounce violence against women, during which he was accused of damaging others’ property after a member of the parliament filed a complaint against him, accusing him of vandalizing his car.

Personal Information

Name: Seif Ayadi

Age: 23

Nationality: Tunisian

Occupation: Queer activist, human rights advocate, and member of Damj Association

Incidents of Violation

Seif Ayadi is a Tunisian human rights advocate and a queer activist who focuses on defending justice and equality for the LGBTQIA+ community. He holds the position of the legal, psychological, and social support group coordinator at the Tunisian Association for Justice and Equality “Damj.” Said is facing charges in three cases due to his work in providing support to the LGBTQIA+ community in Tunisia.

In August 2020, Tunisian police forces physically assaulted Seif due to his support for a group of activists from the LGBTQIA+ community, who had been subjected to violence by the police. He was charged with assaulting public officials, damaging public property, and obstructing the operation of a government institution. The incident of the assault on Seif was recorded by cameras at the Wassila Bourguiba Hospital.

Again, on October 6, 2020, Seif was subjected to assault and arrest by police forces due to his participation in a peaceful march against the law criminalizing attacks against police forces. Seif was charged with blocking a public road and violating police officers’ dignity. This assault resulted in severe injuries, such as fractures in his right shoulder and nose, and damage to his left eye and knee.

On December 8, 2020, several human rights advocates in Tunisian participated in a peaceful demonstration to denounce the speech delivered by one of the members of parliament, in which the member engaged in flagrant discrimination and incitement to hatred against women and the LGBTQIA+ community. Drawing the demonstration, a member of the Tunisian Parliament from the Ennahdha movement attempted to run over the protestors with his car, and in response, Seif and his friend Hamza tried to stop him. Subsequently, the police arrested Seif Ayadi and Hamza Nasri and took them to the local police station before transferring them to the Bouchoucha Detention Center. The Public Prosecutor’s Office charged Hamza and Seif with damaging others’ property, and later, on December 10, they were released pending further proceedings. The date for the next hearing has not yet been scheduled.

Seif continues to face repetitive harassment from the police, as his Facebook accounts and email have been subjected to multiple hacking attempts. On December 22, 2020, security forces raided Saif’s home, breaking down the door and destroying its contents in search of documents related to Saif’s work without a warrant issued by the Public Prosecutors’ Office. On January 14, security officers threatened Seif and his friend Hamza Nasri with arrest following their participation in a peaceful commemoration of the Tunisian revolution, where they demanded the rights of the revolution’s victims and their families.

Trials

1. (Released) Pending trial on the grounds of damaging others’ property
2. Accused of blocking a road and violating the dignity of police officers
3. Accused of damaging public property and obstructing the operation of a government institution

Legal Procedures

Following the accusation by a member of the parliament that Seif had damaged his car, the police arrested Seif Ayadi to take him to the Bardo police station and later transferred him to the Bouchoucha Detention Center. The public prosecution charged him with damaging others’ property, and then on December 10th, he was released pending further proceedings in the case.

Human Rights Violations

The flagrant violations and repetitive assaults by the police forces on Seif derive from his legal, psychological, and social support for the LGBTQIA+ community. In addition, the security pursuit that activist Seif Ayadi faces and the intrusion into his home constitute a violation of the right to privacy and inviolability. His mistreatment is regarded as a blatant violation of human rights, such as the right to bodily integrity and peaceful assembly and protest, which are fundamental human rights protected by all international laws and conventions.

Sources

To document this case, the Intersection Association relied on a meeting with Seif Ayadi and Hamza Nasri on January 15, 2021.