Former Prime Minister Ali Larayedh was handed a 34-year prison sentence by a Tunisian court for allegedly facilitating the flight of fighters to Syria, a charge he vehemently disputes. In response to what he and his Ennahdha party have described as a politically motivated prosecution, Larayedh told the judge”I was neither sympathetic, nor complicit, nor […]
Tag: Tunisia
HRW denounces EU shameful silence over growing erosion of human rights in Tunisia
Human Rights Watch has called on the European Union to break its silence and publicly condemn the deteriorating human rights situation in Tunisia. The EU member states should stop pretending they can satisfy their immediate interests by cozying up with an increasingly repressive leadership in Tunis, said HRW in its latest press release. The Tunisian […]
Tunisia: Heightened security after axe attack on local jeweler ahead of annual pilgrimage in Djerba
Authorities in Tunisia have ramped up security measures on the island of Djerba following an axe attack on a local Jewish jeweler, just days before the island hosts its annual Lag B’Omer pilgrimage. The victim, a 50-year-old shop owner, sustained defensive injuries and was admitted to hospital on Thursday, May 8, though he is expected […]
Tunisia escalates political clampdown with second mass trial of opposition figures
In a move widely interpreted as a deepening of Tunisia’s authoritarian drift, the state has opened on Tuesday May 6 a second sweeping trial against 22 opposition figures, accusing them of conspiring against national security. The new trial comes weeks after a separate mass trial jailed nearly 40 people. The proceedings, dubbed Conspiracy Against State […]
Tunisia: Tensions flare up as Saied dangerously slides into autocracy
Tunisian President’s opponents took to the streets on May Day to decry what they describe as a dangerous slide into autocracy. The marchers chanted slogans calling for Saied’s departure and invoking memories of the 2011 revolution. Workers’ Day thus took a political turn against President Kaïs Saïed, who is accused of failing to curb poverty […]
Tunisia: Young Doctors to stage strike in protest against government inertia
The Tunisian Organization of Young Doctors has announced plans for stage a nationwide strike and protest march on May 2, in response to the breakdown of negotiations with the Ministry of Health. Talks held on Monday, April 28, reportedly failed to yield any meaningful outcomes, despite ministry officials acknowledging the legitimacy of the doctors’ grievances. […]
Tunisia: HRW denounces harsh & sham trials against political opponents
Human Rights Watch has denounced the harsh and unfair sentences issued lately by a Tunisian court against political opponents of the authoritarian regime of Kais Saeid. Prison sentences of up to 66 years were handed down to 37 politicians, businessmen, and lawyers in politically-motivated sham trials, said HRW, decrying quash unfair proceedings. The Tunis Court […]
Tunisia: Concerns renewed over school safety after another wall collapse in Sidi Bouzid
A new incident at El Msabihia Primary School in the Souk Jedid delegation has raised alarm over the safety of school infrastructure in Tunisia’s Sidi Bouzid governorate. On Tuesday, April 22, two pupils were injured when a section of a wall at a water point suddenly gave way while they were drinking. One girl reportedly […]
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 […]
Tunisian court hands hefty sentences to opposition figures, as President uses judiciary to silence dissent
A Tunisian court handed heavy sentences to a group of Tunisian opposition figures on the charge of conspiring against the state, as president Kais Saied tightens the grip while using the judiciary to silence dissidents. The group of 40 individuals, including businessmen, lawyers received sentences ranging from 13 to 66 years in jail. Several critics, […]









