Tunisia: Prominent lawyer detained under anti-terror law

A 48-hour detention order was issued for former judge and outspoken lawyer Ahmed Souab, it has been reported by Bassem Trifi, President of the Tunisian League for Human Rights. The arrest was carried out at Souab’s residence on 21 April 2025, after which he was transferred to the headquarters of the Central counter-terrorism investigation unit in Bouchoucha. The operation was executed by a group of approximately ten police officers, and the move has since drawn attention due to its political overtones.

It is understood that the detention may have been prompted by public remarks made by Souab during a high-profile trial concerning alleged conspiracy against state security, in which he serves as a defense lawyer. His legal team has confirmed that, under Tunisia’s anti-terror legislation, they were barred from providing him with legal assistance during the initial 48-hour period of custody. This procedural restriction has raised alarm among legal professionals and rights groups, who see it as part of a broader pattern of judicial intimidation.

Souab, known for his principled and unflinching criticism of government overreach, has long positioned himself as a defender of judicial independence. His arrest has been interpreted by many observers as an attempt to silence critical voices, particularly those challenging the executive’s influence over Tunisia’s judiciary. As demonstrations of solidarity unfold in the streets of Tunis, concerns are being raised both domestically and internationally over the shrinking space for dissent and the use of anti-terror laws to target legal professionals and civil society figures.