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Death of Lebanese-French Businessman Ali Kassem Kassab After Two Months of Detention in Tunisia; Family Demands the Truth
Kassab had spent approximately two months in Mornaguia Civil Prison; his family insists on uncovering all details of the case and establishing legal accountability. Kassab had arrived in Tunisia from Paris for a summer vacation before being arrested and imprisoned.
Businessman Lazhar Sta Dies After Health Deteriorates in Prison: Family Accuses Authorities of Negligence and Demands Accountability
His family has held the authorities responsible for the conditions of his detention, citing a failure to provide adequate water and medical care suited to his health needs, as well as a delay in notifying them of his deteriorating condition and death.
Death of Mohamed Ali Ben Zid in Custody Who Was Undergoing Treatment for Severe Mental Illness: His Medication Was Denied and Blue Marks on His Body Warrant Investigation
A young man from the Sidi Hassine area and a holder of a disability card, has died weeks after his arrest and transfer to Mornaguia Civil Prison. At the time, he was suffering from a chronic mental illness and had been receiving treatment at Razi Hospital since 2018. His family is demanding that the circumstances of his death be revealed and an investigation conducted
Death of Student Alaaeddine Abdelkader Due to Heat Exhaustion After Transfer From Mornaguia Prison to Charles Nicolle Hospital in a Coma
University student Alaaeddine Abdelkader, 24, has died after being transferred from Mornaguia Civil Prison to Charles Nicolle Hospital in a comatose state. He had been in pretrial detention for approximately four months, during which he was subjected to harsh detention conditions
On Tunisian Women’s Day: Tunisian Women Behind Bars or Facing Prosecution for Their Views and Activism
Freedom for Tunisia Observatory – Tunisian Women’s Day arrives this year at a time when Tunisian women are languishing in prison or facing sentences and legal prosecution due to their views, stances, and activities—spanning the political, human rights, media, and civil spheres.
Urgent Action: Denying Tunisians Residing Abroad Their Passports Turns a Travel Document into a Tool of Political Punishment
The Freedom for Tunisia Observatory is monitoring with deep concern the numerous accounts regarding delays in the issuance and renewal of passports for Tunisians—particularly those residing abroad, including dissidents, politicians, media figures, and former officials.
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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.