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Urgent Appeal: Health of Human Rights Activist Sihem Bensedrine in Danger: Authorities Must Release Her Immediately

The “Freedom for Tunisia” Observatory expresses its deep concern about the critical health situation of prominent Tunisian human rights activist and journalist Sihem Bensedrine, who faces a serious risk to her life as a result of medical neglect and poor detention conditions. Bensedrine was transferred to intensive care last night (January 26) after her health condition deteriorated in Manouba women’s prison, and her family and the defense committee were only informed later. Sihem Bensedrine, 74, has been on a hunger strike for 13 days in protest against her arbitrary arrest and degrading detention conditions.

Background: Arbitrary detention and political reprisals

On August 1, 2024, the investigating judge of Office No. 15 of the Judicial and Financial Pole in the capital Tunis issued a precautionary arrest warrant for Sihem Bensedrine, based on charges of “forgery” and “abuse of official capacity.” These charges are related to the Truth and Dignity Commission report, which documented human rights violations and corruption cases in Tunisia. This complaint was filed by a former member of the commission, claiming that the final report included an illegally added section that addressed allegations of corruption in the Tunisian banking sector. He also alleged that this section could result in the Tunisian state paying significant financial compensation, and claimed that Sihem Bensedrine sought to achieve personal gain through the amendments made to the report.
 
These prosecutions against Sihem Ben Sedrine, who chaired the Truth and Dignity Commission between 2014 and 2018, appear to be in retaliation for her fundamental role in uncovering the truth and documenting crimes committed by pre-revolution regimes, including high-profile corruption cases in the banking sector.
 
Despite the absence of any concrete evidence to support these serious accusations, the Tunisian authorities continue to detain Sihem Ben Sedrine in conditions that do not meet international human rights standards. This arbitrary detention constitutes a clear violation of her rights and reflects a direct targeting of her human rights and professional activism.
 

Health status: Sihem Ben Sedrine’s life in danger

According to lawyer Lamia Farhani, Sihem Ben Sedrine was urgently transferred to the hospital without informing her family or the defense committee, as her health condition had seriously deteriorated due to her hunger strike. It is worth noting that her deteriorating health condition and advanced age make the situation even more dangerous. Al-Farhani confirmed that her husband, Omar Mestiri, and family members were prevented from visiting her, which reflects a persistent determination to violate her basic rights.

The Freedom for Tunisia Observatory calls for:

  1. The immediate and unconditional release of human rights activist Sihem Ben Sedrine.
  2. The dropping of all fabricated criminal charges against her due to her human rights work as head of the Truth and Dignity Commission.
  3. Ensuring that she receives the necessary medical care immediately, while respecting her right to regular contact with her family and lawyer.
  4. Putting an end to the exploitation of the criminal justice system to target human rights defenders and transitional justice in Tunisia.
  5. Protecting all members of the Truth and Dignity Commission from reprisals and ensuring respect for their human rights.

A Call for Action

We call on the Tunisian authorities, the international community, and local and international human rights organizations to intervene immediately to save the life of Sihem Ben Sedrine. Her continued arbitrary detention not only poses a threat to her life, but also sends a dangerous message that undermines the principles of transitional justice and freedom of expression in the country.

Save Sihem Bensedrine’s life

Sihem Bensedrine’s life is at stake, and the international community’s silence will be a green light for continued violations in Tunisia. We call on you all to take urgent action to save the life of this brave human rights activist who has dedicated her life to defending truth and justice.
 
Freedom for Tunisia Observatory 
Date: January 27, 2025

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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.