Women Journalists Without Chains (WJWC) voices deep concern over the ongoing judicial persecution of political detainees in Tunisia, particularly those held in connection with the so-called “conspiracy against state security” case—one of the most serious and politically charged legal cases since 2023.

Since February 2023, security forces have detained nearly 40 public figures from various political and civic backgrounds, many of them vocal critics of President Kais Saied. Detainees were charged with conspiracy-related crimes, often in the absence of clear legal evidence—a move condemned by both local and international rights groups. Human Rights Watch, after reviewing the 140-page investigative report, concluded that the charges lack credible evidence and noted that some detainees have remained in pretrial detention for two years—exceeding Tunisia’s legal limit.

In response to the authorities' imposition of remote court hearings that exclude physical presence, six prominent detainees— Jaouhar Ben Mbarek, Khayyam Turki, Issam Chebbi, Ghazi Chaouachi, Ridha Belhaj and Abdelhamid Jelassi —launched an open-ended hunger strike on April 8. Ben Mbarek began his strike earlier, on March 30. In a statement shared via former President Moncef Marzouki’s Facebook page, the detainees rejected what they described as a sham trial, lacking the basic guarantees of fairness.

Defense lawyers have also withdrawn from trial proceedings in protest. They argue that denying defendants the right to appear in court is a violation of due process and undermines the right to legal defense. “I cannot take part in proceedings that show contempt for both defendants and their lawyers,” said Bassem Trifi, president of the Tunisian League for Human Rights. Other members of the defense team echoed this stance, warning that the trial has become a legal farce designed to sideline dissent.

These developments raise urgent questions about the independence of Tunisia’s judiciary, especially in the context of President Saied’s growing consolidation of power and the erosion of constitutional and institutional safeguards. The remote hearings also violate Article 14 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, as well as Tunisia’s own constitutional guarantees of public, fair, and transparent trials.

WJWC calls on the Tunisian authorities to immediately halt the misuse of the judiciary for political ends, to guarantee fair trial rights, and to allow full legal representation and physical court access for all detainees. The organization demands the unconditional release of all political prisoners, holds the government fully accountable for the health and safety of the hunger strikers, and urges an independent investigation into detention conditions and legal procedures.

Finally, WJWC appeals to international and regional human rights institutions to intervene urgently to monitor these violations and pressure Tunisian authorities to respect legal norms and democratic principles. The continued targeting of opposition voices through the courts marks a dangerous turning point. What is taking place in Tunisia today is not justice—it is a deliberate campaign to eliminate dissent under the cover of law.

Issued by:

Women Journalists Without Chains
April 13, 2025