Skip links

Status Update – Sonia Dahmani

In light of the ongoing systematic violations of human rights in Tunisia, the situation of political prisoner Sonia Dahmani reflects a living tragedy that highlights the repression and abuse faced by prisoners of conscience. Sonia, a lawyer and political activist, is subjected to harsh and inhumane detention conditions, with the aim of breaking her will and stripping her of her dignity.

‎Daily Oppression in Unbearable Detention Conditions

‎The testimony of Sonia’s sister indicates that her life in prison has turned into a series of daily torments. Sonia suffers from the bitter cold in an isolated cell that lacks the most basic necessities of a decent life. She does not have warm clothes to protect her from the cold, and cold water has become a daily weapon to torture her psychologically and physically. Her hands crack from the cold, and her fingers have become swollen and stiff, making her unable to perform the simplest daily tasks, such as cleaning her body or washing her clothes.

‎Deprivation of Basic Rights

‎Sonia was deprived of her most basic human rights, forced to forego personal hygiene, prevented from using hot water and cleaning materials to clean her body and clothes, and trapped in an unhealthy environment. These harsh conditions, which contribute to the spread of skin diseases, increased her psychological and physical suffering and contributed to the aggravation of her deteriorating condition day after day.

‎Systematic Punishment

‎Sonia’s cell has become a “prison within a prison”, where she lives in complete isolation from the outside world. Everything in her detention conditions seems specifically designed to break her psychologically: the food provided is cold and inedible, the deprivation of the right to warm clothes or hot water, and the humiliating treatment by the prison guards. M.

‎Destructive Psychological and Physical Effects

‎Saniya is no longer able to get out of bed or take care of herself, reflecting her physical and psychological collapse as a result of the slow torture she is subjected to. She has become a victim of systematic oppression that seeks to erase her will, because she expresses her opinion on issues related to public affairs.

‎Authorities held fully responsible

‎The Freedom Observatory for Tunisia holds the Tunisian authorities fully responsible for Sonia Dahmani’s condition, including:

  • Providing appropriate treatment and medical care immediately.
  • Ensuring her right to human dignity inside the prison.
  • Investigating the violations she has been subjected to, and holding those responsible accountable.

‎ An immediate letter will be sent to the Presidency of the Republic represented by Kais Saied, the Ministry of Justice represented by Leila Jaffel, and the Director of the Women’s Prison in Manouba, Jamila Smida.

‎ A message of solidarity and a call to civil society

‎ The case of Sonia Dahmani is not just an individual case, but rather a reflection of the flagrant violations faced by prisoners of conscience in Tunisia. These crimes against humanity will not pass without accountability.

‎ Human rights activists and civil society call on all free people inside and outside Tunisia to stand in solidarity with Sonia and defend her right to dignity and justice.

Share

More Posts

عربية
Français
Icon-x Facebook Instagram Tiktok Youtube

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.