Press release
Geneva – May 6, 2024
Tunisian judicial authorities have filed charges against lawyer and former president of the Democratic Women’s Association, Bouchra Belhaj Hamida, in the so-called “conspiracy” case, while she was notified of the accusations while on vacation abroad, which authorities have deemed “a case of fleeing.”
Among the accusations leveled against Bouchra in this case is her receipt of a French merit award in 2022 for her human rights activities, an honor previously bestowed upon numerous Tunisian men and women.
With the conclusion of the investigation on April 12, 2024, Bouchra finds herself facing charges related to terrorism, conspiracy, and committing a heinous act
against the president, among others, punishable by death alongside 51 other accused in the case.
The Committee for Justice (CFJ) reaffirms its solidarity with Tunisian lawyer and women’s rights activist Bouchra Belhaj, regarding the accusations related to her legitimate peaceful human rights work, which constitutes a violation of civil and political rights. Article 19 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights states that everyone has the right to hold opinions without interference.
CFJ demands an end to the deliberate targeting by authorities due to her opinions and human rights activism, calling for her to be tried before a court that adheres to internationally recognized fair trial standards, not before a court operating under flawed terrorism laws.
