Press release
Geneva – February 11, 2024
The Committee for Justice (CFJ) rejects the recent court ruling by the Court of First Instance in El Kaf town on February 7, 2024, sentencing prominent human rights activist and architect Mounir Belshazli to three months in prison.
The legal proceedings against Belshazli stem from an incident in late January 2024 when Tunisian security forces raided his residence in El Kaf. The activist, known for criticizing the current government on his personal Facebook page, was not found during the raid. Subsequently, Belshazli voluntarily surrendered to the city’s security authorities on January 29, 2024.
Following his arrest, a review by the Public Prosecution led to a decision to keep him in custody until his appearance before the judiciary on February 6, 2024. Belshazli faces charges related to the alleged use of information and communication systems to produce, promote, or disseminate false information that violates the rights of others, harms public security or national defense, or spreads terror, as outlined in Article 24 of Decree No. 54.
The CFJ strongly condemns the Tunisian authorities’ targeting and prosecution of individual human rights activists based on their opinions, asserting that such actions constitute a severe violation of fundamental human rights and breach international conventions safeguarding this right. The committee underscores the need for an immediate suspension of Belshazli’s sentence and calls for revising the controversial Article 24, which they argue contradicts Article 19 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, emphasizing the right to freedom of opinion and expression.
Moreover, the CFJ urges suspending the application of Article 24 and any related sentences until a thorough review is conducted. The committee further calls upon Tunisian authorities to cease targeting human rights defenders, advocating for the opening up of the country’s civilian sphere and creating a conducive and secure environment for their peaceful and legitimate work.