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22-Year Prison Sentences for Human Rights and Political Leaders: A New Setback for Human Rights in Tunisia

On June 20, 2025, the Criminal Chamber specializing in terrorism cases at the Tunis Court of First Instance issued in absentia sentences of 22 years in prison with immediate effect against former Tunisian President Moncef Marzouki, former President of the Tunisian Bar Association Abdelrazak Kilani, former Presidential Chief of Staff and former MP Imed Daimi, and two other defendants in the same case, Abdennacer Naït Liman and Adel Mejri.

These defendants were referred to court on charges of committing “terrorist crimes” and “conspiring against state security,” without being able to exercise their right to a defense or to be physically present before the court. This case is one of the most prominent cases brought against high-profile opposition figures in recent years, brought to justice as part of a political campaign to suppress dissenting voices.

Background of the case:

This case is part of an escalating series of politically-motivated cases targeting prominent figures in the Tunisian political scene, particularly those who played pivotal roles in the post-revolution period and were prominent defenders of human rights and civil liberties. Moncef Marzouki, the first democratically elected president after the revolution (2011–2014), continued his involvement in opposition activities after the end of his term and explicitly called for a restoration of the constitutional process following the decisions of July 25, 2021. Imed Daimi, meanwhile, held leadership positions in the presidency and parliament and was known for his oversight activities through the establishment of the “Oversight Observatory,” which uncovered numerous corruption cases. Abdelrazak Kilani is one of the country’s most prominent human rights voices, having held union, government, and diplomatic positions before being targeted in politically charged cases.

The Freedom for Tunisia Observatory believes that the current case was opened directly as a result of the defendants’ human rights activism, including their documentation and publication of details of violations committed by judges or judicial practices that violated fair trial guarantees. This appears to have provoked the ire of both the political and judicial authorities. This judicial referral comes amid a general climate of sharp institutional decline since President Kais Saied consolidated power in 2021, and the intensification of the persecution of political opponents, human rights defenders, and media professionals. It is also noteworthy that a large number of these cases are based on vague charges under the anti-terrorism law, without any real evidence of criminal intent or actions, which reinforces concerns about the judiciary being used as a tool to settle scores with regime critics.

Trial in Absentia Lacks Guarantees:

The Tunisia Freedom Observatory asserts that the trial in this case lacked the minimum guarantees of a fair trial, including the presence of the defendants and their lawyers, and the ability to respond to the charges or discuss the evidence before an independent and public court. The issuance of heavy sentences in absentia, in a context characterized by the exclusion of opponents and the closure of the political sphere, cannot be separated from the general climate of serious deterioration in freedoms and judicial independence.

UN rapporteurs and experts from organizations such as Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International have previously expressed concern about the systematic exploitation of the judiciary in Tunisia against the political opposition, particularly when charges of “terrorism” or “conspiracy” are used to criminalize peaceful political activities.

The Freedom for Tunisia Observatory calls for:

  • Quashing the sentences issued against Moncef Marzouki and the rest of the activists, and re-opening the case under the conditions of a fair trial that respects legal and international guarantees.
  • Stopping the persecution of political opponents under the pretext of terrorism or conspiracy, especially those who engage in political and civil activities through peaceful means.
  • Protecting the judiciary from political manipulation and ensuring its effective independence from the executive branch.
  • Respecting the principle of non-impunity by opening investigations into judicial and human rights violations committed in the name of the law.
  • Activating independent international oversight of political trials in Tunisia, through fact-finding missions or neutral legal observers.

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Call to Action

Website petition: Freedom for prisoners of conscience and activists in Tunisia!

Tunisia is no longer the Arab exception that inspired the world in 2011 with a heroic revolution that overthrew the rule of Zine El Abidine Ben Ali, who ruled for nearly 23 years after seizing power on November 7, 1987, in a coup against Habib Bourguiba.

In a similar and perhaps more dangerous move, on the night of July 25, 2021, Tunisian President Kais Saied carried out a “constitutional coup” in accordance with his personal interpretation of Article 80 of the 2014 Revolutionary Constitution, announcing that he had taken a set of exceptional measures due to the “imminent danger” that threatens Tunisia without providing any details or reasons.

In accordance with these measures, Saied dismissed the government and the prime minister Hichem Mechichi who was present at the National Security Council that night at the Carthage Palace, and claimed that he had contacted the Speaker of Parliament Rached Ghannouchi (leader of the Ennahdha party) to consult with him in accordance with what is stipulated by the constitution, a claim which Ghannouchi denied since the call was general and did not include anything about exceptional measures or any consultation on the matter. The president suspended Parliament and later dissolved it in March 2022.

Not only did Saied seek to bypass his powers and the articles of the Constitution, which he swore to protect before the Assembly of the Representatives of the People, but he went on to dismiss and change the composition of the Supreme Judicial Council after redefining the judiciary it as a “function” rather than an independent authority. He further replaced members of the Supreme Electoral Commission in preparation for the referendum he held in order to vote on a constitution that he wrote himself after dismissing the proposals of the drafting committee he had himself appointed. Then legislative elections were held over two rounds, in which the participation rate did not exceed 8% of the total number of voters, with the Election Commission later announcing that it had reached 11%, which is the lowest participation rate in Tunisia and globally.

On February 11, President Saied’s regime launched a campaign of protests that has not stopped since, against political leaders, media figures, journalists, judges and senior officials and civil servants, for charges of “conspiring against the security of the state and committing an offensive act against the President of the Republic,” in addition to other charges that were referred to the military prosecution, leading one to wonder about the implication of the Tunisian army in the actions taken by Saied.

The arbitrary arrests were marred by several procedural violations amid criticism from prominent international organizations and observatories in the field of human rights. The standards of litigation and detention period and conditions were not respected. Prosecution and harassment sometimes extended to the detainees’ families, and no evidence, and in many cases, no charges against them were presented.

Moreover trade unions and political parties continue to be subjected to constant harassment and restrictions. Saied continues to target all “intermediary bodies” accusing them of “collaboration” or “treason”. Civil society associations have also been subjected to prosecution, arbitrary arrests and deprivation from representation, in a context of of increasing violence in society due to the authorities’ adoption of racist and discriminatory speeches and rhetoric inciting infighting and violating human dignity.

In light of the above, we, the undersigned, demand the following:

Call for the immediate release of all political detainees, immediately and unconditionally. We also urge the Tunisian authorities to recognize the national and the international human rights treaties they have ratified.
Call on the Tunisian authorities to stop dismantling the nascent democracy and put an end to unfair trials and prosecutions against political opponents of the regime and anyone who criticises it.
Call on all activists and observers to join the national movement for restoring democracy and ending authoritarian rule that has taken Tunisia back to despotism, injustice, and violations of rights and freedoms.