Ongoing Detention of “Steadfastness Convoy” Activists Signals Deepening Judicial Politicization

Tunisia - April 5, 2026 - Women Journalists Without Chains expresses grave concern over the continued detention of activists affiliated with the “Steadfastness Convoy” (Astoul al‑Sumoud), held since March 6, 2026.

The organization considers these proceedings a troubling escalation in the targeting of civic actors and a clear indication of the growing instrumentalization of the judiciary to curtail fundamental freedoms and suppress dissent.

The arrests have impacted seven activists—Ghassen Boughdiri, Jawaher Channa, Nabil Chennoufi, Ghassen Henchiri, Sana Msahli, Wael Naouar, and Dr. Mohamed Amine Ben Nour—four of whom remain in pretrial detention.

Based on field monitoring and interviews conducted with individuals close to the detainees, Women Journalists Without Chains finds that the charges leveled against them, including allegations of “money laundering” and “mismanagement of aid,” lack credible legal substantiation. These accusations appear to be deployed to criminalize legitimate humanitarian engagement, reflecting a broader pattern of exploiting vague legal provisions to constrain civil society activity.

Women Journalists Without Chains further condemns the unauthorized disclosure of judicial investigation materials and their use in orchestrated media smear campaigns. Such actions constitute a serious breach of the presumption of innocence and risk prejudicing both judicial proceedings and public perception.

The organization underscores that this case is emblematic of a wider trajectory in Tunisia marked by a shrinking civic space and the sustained politicization of the judiciary since President Kais Saied assumed power. Legal institutions are increasingly leveraged to pursue activists and perceived opponents, undermining judicial independence and eroding the fundamental guarantees of a fair trial.

Women Journalists Without Chains also highlights the inconsistency between official expressions of support for the Palestinian cause and the prosecution of individuals engaged in peaceful solidarity initiatives with Gaza—an apparent double standard that raises serious concerns regarding the treatment of humanitarian and human rights advocacy.

These practices stand in violation of Tunisia’s constitutional framework and its international legal obligations, notably under the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, which safeguards freedom of expression, peaceful assembly, and protection from arbitrary detention. The use of pretrial detention in cases of a civil and humanitarian nature, absent compelling legal grounds, further contravenes the principles of necessity and proportionality.

Women Journalists Without Chains calls for:

- The immediate and unconditional release of all detained “Steadfastness Convoy” activists and the dismissal of all politically motivated charges;  
- An end to the politicization of the judiciary and its use as a mechanism to target activists and human rights defenders;  
- A prompt, independent investigation into the leaking of judicial materials and accountability for those responsible for defamation campaigns;  
- Full respect for public freedoms, the safeguarding of judicial independence, and adherence to international fair trial standards.

Women Journalists Without Chains warns that the continuation of these violations reflects a marked deterioration in the state of public freedoms in Tunisia and poses a direct threat to the rule of law and the integrity of the justice system.