Press release
Geneva – June 12, 2024
The “Committee for Justice” (CFJ) has condemned the issuance of an arrest warrant against labor rights advocate and local union member Abdelkader Mansour in Gafsa, Tunisia. The warrant was issued following a complaint filed by the director of El Guettar Hospital.
The arrest warrant, dated May 27, 2024, cites Decree 54 and was triggered by a satirical social media post by Mansour on the occasion of World Donkey Day. Healthcare workers in Gafsa perceived the post as offensive and filed the complaint, although the post did not mention any individuals by name or position.
Mohamed Ammar, Secretary-General of the local labor union in El Guettar, emphasized that the post did not include any specific accusations or names.
CFJ rejects the arrest warrant against Mansour, viewing it as a blatant violation of his freedom of expression. CFJ calls on Tunisian authorities to rescind the warrant, release Mansour immediately and unconditionally, and cease targeting activists for their opinions.
