Geneva - The persistent escalation of the campaign to suppress the right to peaceful assembly and freedom of expression in Tunisia is deeply alarming, particularly as Tunisian authorities continue to criminalise these fundamental rights by detaining and prosecuting activists and demonstrators.
The ongoing restrictions on the right to demonstrate in Tunisia, whether related to political or trade union issues or broader public freedoms, are amplifying concerns.
The Tunisian authorities recently detained Jamal Al-Sharif, the secretary-general of the Sebikha local union, due to his involvement in trade union activities.
In a development that raised fears of further escalation, the court sentenced Al-Sharif and three shoe factory employees who were with him during their protest inside the factory to a six-month suspended prison term on 21 November.
Al-Sharif's arrest and subsequent sentencing represent a clear violation of the right to union activity, including the right to strike, as guaranteed by Article 41 of the Tunisian Constitution and Article 22.2 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, to which Tunisia acceded in 1969. This infringement contradicts Tunisia's constitutional and international obligations, further entrenching repressive policies.
Since President Kais Saied seized control of the country's election commission in the summer of 2022, repression campaigns targeting protesters, opponents, and human rights defenders have intensified.
This troubling trend has escalated further this year, with numerous lawyers, journalists, and activists being arrested and detained—flagrant violations of the rights to peaceful assembly and freedom of expression.
The increasing restrictions, arrests, and judicial actions against individuals exercising these rights highlight the Tunisian authorities' tendency to criminalise such freedoms, raising profound concerns.
To safeguard the rights to peaceful assembly and freedom of expression, the Tunisian government must fully honour its constitutional and international commitments. Judges in Tunisia must also fulfil their role as protectors of freedoms and rights.
All human rights defenders and detainees imprisoned for exercising their rights to freedom of opinion and expression must be released immediately and unconditionally.
Additionally, unlawful prosecutions and arbitrary arrests must cease, and laws that contravene human rights standards—particularly Decree 54/2022 on combating crimes related to information and communication systems—must be repealed.
This decree infringes on the right to privacy, restricts freedom of opinion and expression, and imposes arbitrary criminal penalties.
In line with Tunisia's constitutional protections and international obligations, the international community must exert pressure on Tunisian authorities to uphold human rights, dignity, and the rule of law.
