The UN has denounced the “persecution” of the Tunisian opposition and has called for the end of arbitrary arrest of human rights defenders, journalists and lawyers.
The UN high commissioner for human rights on Tuesday said the Tunisian authorities also needed to release the elderly and those suffering from health problems immediately for humanitarian reasons.
“Volker Turk calls on the Tunisian authorities to cease all forms of persecution of political opponents and to respect the right to freedom of opinion and expression,” said a spokesperson, Thameen al-Kheetan, during a press briefing in Geneva.
Since Tunisian President Kais Saied’s power grab on 25 July 2021, when he froze parliament and started dismantling the democratic advances made after the revolution, the authorities have launched a widespread crackdown on opposition figures.
According to the UN, campaigners, journalists and politicians are “facing broad and vague accusations apparently following the exercise of their rights and freedoms”.
The UN cites some prominent cases such as that of Abderrazak Krimi, project director of the Tunisian Refugee Council; Abir Moussi, lawyer and president of the Free Destourian Party; and lawyer Sonia Dahmani, who all went on hunger strike in detention.
In Tuesday’s statement, the high commissioner recalled that earlier this month, journalists and several political figures were sentenced to long prison terms for “endangering state security” in what it said was a “trial marred by alleged violations of the guarantees of a fair trial and due process”.
The case against these and dozens of others is related to Instalingo, a digital content production firm that has been under heavy scrutiny since Saied’s takeover.
Rached Ghannouchi, leader of the main opposition party Ennahda, was among those targeted by this verdict. The 83-year-old, who has been behind bars since 2023, was sentenced to another 22 years in prison.
Deposed prime minister Hichem Mechichi was sentenced to 35 years and journalist Chahrazed Akacha to 27, both in absentia. Mohamed Ali Aroui, former interior ministry spokesperson, was sentenced to 16 years, while Ennahda official Said Ferjani was handed 13.
The charges include “undermining the integrity of Tunisian territory” and “joining a gang that works to change the form of the state and commit hostilities against the president”, according to one of the lawyers on the defence team.
According to the UN press release, over 40 individuals, including opponents from various political affiliations, are scheduled to stand trial at the beginning of March before the Court of First Instance in Tunis. They are part of a group accused of “conspiracy against the state”, as well as terrorism-related charges.
In its latest tally published in January, Human Rights Watch estimated the number of imprisoned political figures, activists, lawyers and journalists at “over 80 people”.
