Tunisian Authorities Crack Down on Freedom of Expression and Association Ahead of Presidential Elections
Tunisian authorities have intensified their clampdown on the rights to freedom of expression and association, escalating their harassment of political opponents, restricting the work of journalists, human rights defenders, and NGOs, and taking steps to further undermine judicial independence.
According to Amnesty International, at least 97 members of the opposition group Ennahda were arrested between September 12 and 13, with many denied access to their lawyers for 48 hours and brought before the anti-terrorism brigade for questioning. They are being investigated for conspiracy charges and other charges under the counter-terrorism law.
The authorities have continued to arbitrarily detain opposition politicians and human rights defenders, sideline presidential candidates, and disregard administrative court decisions to reinstate presidential candidates. The criminal justice system has been weaponized to silence peaceful dissent.
"Tunisian authorities are waging a clear pre-election assault on the pillars of human rights and the rule of law, failing to uphold the country’s international human rights obligations and undermining the fundamental principles of justice and fairness," said Agnès Callamard, Amnesty International’s Secretary General. "They must end this egregious backslide on human rights and ensure respect for the rights of everyone in the country before, during, and after the forthcoming elections."
The Independent High Authority for Elections (ISIE) has been at the forefront of this crackdown, denying requests for accreditation made by anti-corruption NGO IWatch and observation NGO Mourakiboun, two Tunisian organizations that have been monitoring the elections since 2014. The ISIE has also been attempting to restrict independent media coverage of the elections, issuing warning notices to four private radio stations and revoking the accreditation of an independent journalist.
The ISIE has also filed several criminal complaints against political opposition members and critics, leading to convictions and sentences under Decree Law 54 for "spreading false information." Opposition party president Abir Moussi was sentenced to two years in prison in one case and is facing charges in two other cases brought against her by the ISIE.
The magazine Jeune Afrique was also banned from distributing its September issue in Tunisia, presumably due to an article criticizing President Kais Saied.
Amnesty International is calling on the Tunisian authorities to immediately and unconditionally release those detained solely for peacefully exercising their human rights, including Ennahda party members and imprisoned human rights defenders. The organization is also urging the authorities to allow media and civil society organizations to freely carry out their legitimate activities without fear of reprisal and end all interference in the judiciary.
The erosion of state institutions and the undermining of the rule of law are of great concern, as is the use of the criminal justice system to silence peaceful dissent. The international community must hold the Tunisian authorities accountable for their actions and ensure that the country’s human rights obligations are respected.
Background
Since 2022, authorities have carried out successive waves of arrests targeting political opponents and perceived critics of President Saied. Over 70 people, including political opponents, lawyers, journalists, human rights defenders, and activists have been subjected to arbitrary detention and/or prosecution since the end of 2022. Tens remain in arbitrary detention in connection with the exercise of their internationally guaranteed rights such as the rights to freedom of expression, peaceful assembly, and association.
