The Tunis Court of First Instance considered on Monday, 11 May 2026, the case concerning the request to dissolve both Al Khatt Association and Mnemty Association, in a serious turning point that affects the very essence of the right to freedom of association and civic engagement. The request was filed by the State Litigation Authority, raising serious concerns about the increasing resort to judicial proceedings as a tool to restrict civil society space. The court decided to postpone the case to 1 June 2026.
In this context, Intersection Association for Rights and Freedoms expresses its full, principled, and unconditional solidarity with Al Khatt Association and Mnemty Association, as well as with all their staff. And strongly condemns this move, which constitutes a serious infringement on the freedom of association and a clear violation of constitutional and international standards guaranteeing this right, particularly the principles of legality, necessity, and proportionality in restricting rights and freedoms, as enshrined in international human rights law and in the provisions of Decree-Law No. 88 of 2011.
The Association affirms that freedom of association is not a privilege granted by the authorities, but rather a fundamental right and an essential component of any democratic system. Any infringement upon this right, whether through dissolution requests, suspension orders, or administrative and judicial restrictions imposed outside the strict necessity standards explicitly provided for by law, constitutes a serious setback to the achievements of the Revolution and to the Tunisian state’s international commitments to protecting civic space and guaranteeing freedom of association.
It further emphasizes that these measures cannot be viewed in isolation from the broader political context in Tunisia, which is characterized by increasing pressure on intermediary bodies and growing direct and indirect restrictions on the work of organizations, associations, and human rights defenders.
The Association warns that the misuse of judicial mechanisms for purposes other than their protective function risks undermining the independence of civil society and stripping it of its oversight and corrective role, thereby weakening the foundations of the rule of law and limiting pluralism and public participation.
Accordingly, Intersection Association for Rights and Freedoms calls for the immediate cessation of these measures and the withdrawal of the dissolution requests while also urging respect for Tunisia’s constitutional and international obligations in a manner that guarantees the protection of freedom of association as a fundamental right that cannot be arbitrarily restricted or curtailed.
