A recent surge of arrests targeting government critics, lawyers, and journalists in Tunisia has sparked international concern and scrutiny.
Among those detained in the crackdown are activists like Saadia Mosbah, France 24 cameraman Hamdi Tlil, and Lawyer Sonia Dahman.
Tlil was released without charges, but journalist Borhen Bsaies and columnist Mourad Zeghidi remain in pre-trial detention, accused of violating cybercrime laws.
Bsaies’ lawyer argues that there’s insufficient evidence to support the charges against his client.
Reporters Without Borders has strongly condemned these arrests and called for an end to what they see as authoritarian tactics by the Tunisian government.
Criticism of President Kais Saied often leads to accusations of threatening state security, which poses a significant challenge to press freedom.
The European Union, Tunisia’s primary trading partner, has expressed worry over the arrests, citing potential violations of constitutional rights.
The U.S. State Department has engaged Tunisia about the arrests, particularly of lawyers, emphasizing that such actions contradict universal rights guaranteed by the Tunisian constitution.
These recent arrests are part of a broader pattern under Decree 54, a controversial cybercrime law used to target political opponents since 2022.
The law has drawn criticism from Tunisia’s Labour Union and journalistic groups.
Tunisia plays a crucial role for the U.S. and EU on security and migration issues in the Mediterranean region.
The General Union of Journalists has criticized the law as a tool to persecute dissent and restrict freedom of expression.
Saied, now in his first term, faces challenges with an unexpected presidential election approaching later in the year.
Opposition parties and individuals are likely to face increased pressure.
