Press release
Geneva – August 13, 2024
The Committee for Justice (CFJ) has condemned the decision by the Tunisian Indictment Chamber on Wednesday, August 7th, to uphold the referral of human rights lawyer and media personality Sania Dahmani to the criminal court over a new case related to media statements she allegedly made criticizing prison conditions in Tunisia.
Her lawyer, Sami Ben Ghazi, stated on Facebook that Dahmani faces a potential 10-year prison sentence under Decree 54. This follows a previous ruling on July 5th, when the Eighth Chamber of the Tunis Primary Court sentenced Dahmani to one year in prison under the same decree for earlier statements regarding the situation of migrants in Tunisia.
Ben Ghazi noted that the appeal hearing for this case, known in the media as the “Blad Hayla” case, was scheduled for Wednesday, August 7th, without prior notification to Dahmani or her defense team. The hearing was postponed to August 20th due to her health condition, which prevented her from leaving prison.
Dahmani was arrested on May 11, 2024, by security forces who stormed the Lawyers’ House in Tunis, where she was staging a sit-in with other lawyers.
CFJ views her referral to a new trial as part of the authorities’ ongoing arbitrary measures against Dahmani, stemming from her media and human rights activities. CFJ also calls for the abolition of Decree 54, which many Tunisian human rights advocates argue restricts civil space and freedom of expression in the country.
