The appeal trial of Tunisian lawyer and former judge Ahmed Souab began on Thursday, with the court rejecting a request for his provisional release on health grounds and postponing proceedings until February 23. Souab, a prominent rights advocate, has been imprisoned since April 2023 on anti-terrorism charges linked to his criticisms of the judiciary.
Souab’s legal team and family assert his health has severely deteriorated in detention. His son, Saeb Souab, stated the family submitted a substantial medical file, noting his father suffered a heart attack in 2022 and a cardiologist has warned prison conditions could worsen his condition. Lawyer Fedi Snene confirmed the court’s decision to reject release and delay the hearing.
The case stems from Souab’s role as a defence lawyer in a high-profile mass trial last year, where approximately 40 public figures were sentenced to lengthy terms on charges including plotting against the state. During that trial, Souab publicly accused authorities of exerting improper political pressure on judges. In October, he was swiftly sentenced to five years in a trial his lawyer described as lasting less than two minutes.
Snene denied the allegations against Souab, emphasising his 30-year career as a judge before becoming a lawyer. “He should not be in prison,” Snene said. The UN Special Rapporteur on human rights defenders, Mary Lawlor, intervened on Wednesday, stating Souab’s conviction was based on “baseless charges” and calling for his immediate release.
This case unfolds against a backdrop of narrowing civic space in Tunisia. Rights groups have documented a sharp decline in civil liberties since President Kais Saied dissolved parliament and began ruling by decree in July 2021. A subsequent state of emergency, extended repeatedly, has been used to suppress dissent. The mass trial and Souab’s prosecution are widely viewed by critics as part of a broader crackdown on political opposition and independent voices.
The postponement of Souab’s appeal extends his pre-trial detention as his health concerns grow. The outcome of his case is being closely watched as a test of judicial independence and the treatment of government critics in Tunisia’s current political climate. His next court appearance is scheduled for February 23.
