Africa-Press. On Wednesday, a local source published a human rights report titled “Living a Life on Hold,” revealing the suffering of Tunisian detainees. The report included interviews with civil society activists to convey the tragedy occurring within prisons.
The report noted that since 2024, Tunisian authorities have conducted a systematic campaign of legal prosecutions, arrests, collective financial investigations, and the suspension and threats of dissolution against associations, leading to the near-total closure of civil space in the country.
It stated that in the past two years, at least 47 individuals associated with civil society organizations have been prosecuted, with some detained for over 14 months. At least 14 individuals have been convicted and sentenced to prison, and the operations of at least 20 associations have been suspended.
The report highlighted that the Tunisian government has systematically repressed civil society organizations and their members since 2024, resulting in the near-total closure of the vibrant civil space that emerged after the 2011 revolution.
“Civil society plays a crucial role in holding power accountable, providing essential services, and defending human rights. Authorities misuse all available tools to close off space for civil society and shut down these organizations,” the report stated.
The human rights report emphasized the need for authorities to end the repression of civil society and allow civil groups to operate fully and freely.
The 49-page report, titled “Life on Hold: The Repression of Civil Society in Tunisia,” documents the escalation of repression against local and international civil society groups and their members, using arbitrary legal prosecutions, arbitrary arrests, detention, financial and criminal investigations, collective suspensions, and threats of dissolution as weapons against them.
Statement from Human Rights Official
Bassem Khawaja, Deputy Director for the Middle East and North Africa at a local source, stated: “Civil society organizations in Tunisia play a crucial role in holding power accountable, providing essential services, and defending people’s rights. It is clear that authorities misuse all available tools to close off space for civil society in Tunisia and shut down these organizations.”
Since 2022, the president has demonized civil society and non-governmental organizations in his speeches, portraying them as a threat to national sovereignty. Between May and December 2024, authorities arrested several workers from organizations that assist refugees, asylum seekers, and migrants, as well as those combating racism and discrimination. Since then, at least 47 individuals associated with non-governmental organizations have been prosecuted, with at least 10 individuals detained for over 14 months, the maximum duration allowed under Tunisian law.
Authorities have used laws criminalizing assistance to foreigners with irregular immigration status and the 2015 anti-terrorism and money laundering law to bring arbitrary charges against human rights defenders and workers in non-governmental organizations.
Following trials in 2025 and 2026, at least 14 individuals associated with civil society were convicted and sentenced to prison. On March 19, 2026, prominent human rights defender Saadia Msbah was sentenced to eight years in prison and fined heavily based on arbitrary charges of financial crimes. Five employees from organizations focused on asylum were also convicted on arbitrary charges related to their work and the legal status of their registered associations.
Since then, the targeted associations have suspended their activities.
Authorities have also collectively targeted associations with financial and criminal investigations. By the end of 2024, ahead of the presidential elections, the “Research and Anti-Tax Evasion Unit” notified at least 10 associations – including the regional office of a local source and the local group “I Am Vigilant” focused on combating corruption – that they were under investigation. These investigations impose an administrative and operational burden and have led to the freezing of bank accounts for at least two associations.
The widespread and systematic use of these investigations against a broad segment of civil society raises serious concerns that the government is using these measures as a weapon to target and intimidate civil society organizations.
Between July and October 2025, and between April and May 2026, authorities misused Decree 2011-88 concerning associations to impose a collective closure on the operations of associations. A local source identified at least 20 civil society associations whose operations were suspended, although it is impossible to determine the exact number without official data.
These suspension decisions are believed to have circumvented due legal processes and been marred by violations. Some associations did not receive the official warnings required by law, which would have allowed them to respond to allegations of violations or address them. Other associations attempted to respond but received no reply. A local source stated that suspending an association’s operations is a drastic measure that should only be taken as a last resort, with clear justification and independent review.
These groups face a serious risk of dissolution once all avenues of appeal have been exhausted. Lawyers supporting some of the suspended groups told a local source that officials rejected appeals from about 30 associations that had filed them. The “Al-Khat” association (publisher of the independent media platform “Inqifada”) and the “Manamati” association are currently facing dissolution procedures.
The judiciary, which issues suspension orders, has been under the control of the executive authority since 2022, when the president took extensive measures to crush judicial independence.
Associations have also faced additional restrictions alongside this repressive campaign. Private banks imposed unjustified restrictions on many associations, such as closing their accounts in hard currency or convertible dinars, blocking foreign funds sent to Tunisian accounts or returning them, or closing their bank accounts. Some groups reported that authorities refused to accredit them for election monitoring, imposed stricter rules for entering prisons and detention centers, or banned certain public events.
Tunisian authorities have repeatedly sought to replace the current legislative framework governing associations with stricter measures that would severely undermine the right of organizations to freedom of association. Two draft laws, one leaked in early 2022 and another submitted to parliament in October 2023, could grant the government significant control and oversight over the establishment, activities, and funding of independent groups.
A local source stated that Tunisian authorities should stop restricting freedom of association, end arbitrary investigations and judicial harassment, and decriminalize the work of civil society groups and their members. They should release all workers in non-governmental organizations, activists, and human rights defenders arbitrarily detained due to their legitimate work, and overturn unjust convictions. Parliament should ensure that associations can operate freely, including by withdrawing draft laws that violate the right to freedom of association.
The international community, including the European Union and its member states, should publicly and privately urge Tunisian authorities to release all workers in non-governmental organizations, human rights defenders, activists, and others arbitrarily detained, overturn convictions related to the legitimate work of groups, and end repression against civil society.
Tunisia is a party to the “International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights” and the “African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights,” which guarantee rights to freedom of association, assembly, and expression, protection against arbitrary arrest or detention, and the right to a fair trial.
Khawaja stated: “By dismantling the available space for civil society, authorities are trying to ensure that no one remains to hold them accountable. The international community must take urgent action to help preserve what remains of civil space in Tunisia, ensure the protection of human rights defenders, and end this serious rights regression.”
