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48 Years in Prison for Mustafa Khidr: New Case Enshrines the Logic of “Selective Justice” in Terrorism Cases
On Tuesday, May 13, 2025, the Criminal Chamber specializing in terrorism cases at the Tunis Court of First Instance sentenced former army officer Mustafa Khidr in absentia to 48 years in prison and one of his sons to two years in prison in person. The court acquitted the remaining family members (wife, second son, and daughter).
Eight-Year Prison Sentence for Former Ministry Advisor Ali Lafi: Politicizing a Security Case and Turning It into a Terrorism Case
The Criminal Chamber specializing in terrorism cases at the Tunis Court of First Instance sentenced Ali Lafi, a former advisor to the Minister of Religious Affairs, to eight years in prison on Tuesday, May 13, 2025, in a case described by the authorities as a “national security case.”
Violations Against Migrant and Refugee Activists in Tunisia (2023-2025)
Tunisia witnessed a radical political shift following President Kais Saied’s announcement of exceptional measures on July 25, 2021. Saied suspended parliament, dissolved the government, and assumed executive and legislative powers, raising concerns about his consolidation of power and the undermining of democratic gains.
Student Bilel Habhab Arrested for Pro-Palestine Tag: Criminalization of Expressions of Solidarity in Public Space
On Thursday, May 8, 2025, officers at the National Security Center in Soliman Riadh arrested student Bilel Habhab, an activist within the General Union of Tunisian Students (UGET) and a student at the Higher School of Health Sciences and Technologies, for writing a tag calling for a boycott of the Carrefour chain of stores on the walls of one of its branches in Ben Arous Governorate.
Three Years in Prison and Heavy Fines Against Ridha Charafeddine: Lack of Proportionality and Politicization of Financial Justice
The Sixth Criminal Chamber of the Tunis Court of First Instance, which specializes in financial corruption cases, issued a three-year prison sentence against businessman and former member of the dissolved parliament, Ridha Charafeddine, and imposed financial fines exceeding 72 million dinars on him in a case related to making financial gains abroad without a license from the Central Bank.
“Conspiracy Case 2”: Hearing Postponed to May 27 Amid Legal Violations and Unsubstantiated Accusations
The Fifth Criminal Chamber, specializing in terrorism cases at the Tunis Court of First Instance, decided to postpone the hearing of the case known as “Conspiracy Against State Security Case 2” until May 27, while rejecting all requests for bail for any of the detainees.
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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.