Banjul, Gambia — 29 October 2025
During the 85th Ordinary Session of the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights (ACHPR), under Agenda Item 8, the Committee for Justice (CFJ) delivered an oral statement on behalf of the Tunisian League for the Defense of Human Rights (LTDH) and the Tunisian civil society coalition regarding the situation of freedom of expression in Tunisia, with a focus on the abusive use of Decree-Law 2022-54 on cybercrime.
The coalition drew the Commission’s attention to the serious deterioration of freedom of expression since the last presidential elections. Originally presented as a measure to combat disinformation, this decree is now being used to criminalize critical opinions and restrict civic space.
Key cases highlighted included:
- Borhen Bsaies and Mourad Zeghidi, journalists, sentenced for their media statements;
- Sonia Dahmani, lawyer and columnist, violently arrested for a simple ironic remark;
- Ahmed Souab, former judge and lawyer, sentenced for public statements and falsely accused of terrorism;
- Chadha Hadj Mbarek, journalist with a disability, detained and subjected to mistreatment in violation of international standards against cruel or degrading punishment.
This repression is part of an unprecedented shrinking of civic space, affecting civil society organizations, especially those defending the rights of migrants and refugees.
The coalition called on the African Commission to:
- Publicly condemn the abusive use of Decree-Law 54 and resulting arbitrary detentions;
- Urge the Tunisian authorities to guarantee freedom of expression and release all individuals detained for their opinions;
- Call for the repeal of Decree-Law 54, which is incompatible with Tunisia’s international obligations.
The coalition emphasized to the Commission that freedom of expression is not a threat to the State but a condition for its very existence, and that protecting Tunisian institutions cannot come at the expense of free thought and fundamental rights.
