Joint press release
Tunis, 12/5/2024
“From a State of Exception to a State of Comprehensive Oppression”
In a grave context marked by the upsurge of arrests of several activists in the associative society, media, and human rights, so as to intensify the entrenchment of an autocratic regime by undermining the principle of the independence of the authority, encroaching upon the guarantees of a fair trial, and blatantly infringing upon rights and freedoms to oppress any free dissenting voice and. This includes suppressing media, dismantling independent bodies, besieging civil and political forces, narrowing the sphere of involvement in public affairs, and creating a climate of intimidation. On May 11, 2024, masked and plain clothed security forces raided the Bar Association’s Lawyers’ House and brutally abducted Ms. Soneya Dahmani, a lawyer and media figure protesting at the premises, to an unknown destination, following the issue of an arbitrary arrest warrant against her due to a media intervention related to violations and smear campaigns against irregular migrants and associations concerned with migration issues. The raid was accompanied by assaults on lawyers, activists, and journalists at the scene.
In a context related to the policy aiming at infringing upon freedom of expression and suppressing free and independent voices, media professionals Mourad Zghidi and Borhen Bsaiess were arrested at dawn on Sunday, May 12, and interrogated on the for their opinions.
The undersigned associations and organizations:
Demand the immediate and unconditional release of all detainees of freedom of opinion and expression
Condemn the severe violations of fair trial guarantees, intimidation of judges, and persecution of lawyers, in an unprecedented dangerous context in the history of Tunisia.
Denounce criminal prosecution of lawyers defending political opponents, activists, and victims of human rights violations.
Deplore the policy that aims at silencing the voices of the civil and political fields to control and exclusively exert dominance in the public space.
Call for the abolition of legal texts hostile to freedoms, notably “Decree No. 54 of 2022 on combating crimes related to information and communication systems”, which the political reality today has proved to be made to infringe upon freedom of expression and suppress free voices.
Hold the political authority responsible for the outcomes of the current situation following the wave of incitement, intimidation, and hate speech led by the authority and its supporters, whose only aim is to undermine social peace.
Signatures:
Tunisian League for Human Rights (LTDH)
Intersection Association for rights and freedoms
Aswat Nisaa
Tunisian Association of Democratic Women (ATFD)
Calam Association
Beity Association
Mnemty Association
Committee for the Respect of Liberties and Human Rights in Tunisia
Social Accountability Association
Tunisian Organization of Young Doctors
Tunisian Association for the Defense of Individual Freedoms (ADLI)
Victory Association for Rural Women
Nomad 08
Euromed Rights
Lawyers without Borders (ASF)
Damj Tunisian association for justice and equality
Lina Ben Mhenni Association
INTERNATIONAL FEDERATION FOR HUMAN RIGHTS (FIDH)
Women and Citizenship Association in Kef
Jusoor Association for Citizenship
WeYouth organization
Tunisian Forum for Economic and Social Rights
The Nawaat Journalists Association