Press Release
The Committee for Justice (CFJ) has monitored that the Tunis Primary Court, in its October 19, 2024 session, sentenced lawyer Nour El-Dine Al-Bhiri to ten years in prison on charges of “attempted alteration of the state’s authority,” allegedly based on a fabricated social media post that remains undiscovered.
Al-Bhiri’s defense team has called this ruling a blatant violation of justice principles and legal procedures, condemning the case process for its lack of transparency and minimum standards for a fair trial.
The defense team clarified that Al-Bhiri’s arrest followed an unauthorized raid on his home over a purportedly political post critical of the authorities. This incident led to a serious injury requiring surgery, which was only performed after Al-Bhiri protested through a hunger strike.
Furthermore, the defense team noted that the court ignored their requests for Al-Bhiri to receive medical treatment during detention and dismissed torture complaints, further undermining confidence in the trial’s impartiality.
The defense also stated that the court proceeded with the sentencing despite the absence of defense lawyers, who had withdrawn from the case in protest of the trial’s procedures. This ignored the legal requirement for defense counsel presence in criminal cases. The team highlighted that this case underscores the accelerating rate of politically motivated trials in the country, as no concrete evidence was presented to substantiate the charge, relying solely on unproven claims.
CFJ has rejected the ruling against Al-Bhiri and calls for its suspension and his release pending the implementation of all necessary measures to ensure a retrial before a court meeting internationally recognized standards for fair trials.
