Press Release
The Criminal Chamber at the Tunis Court of First Instance issued a decision on Wednesday, October 10, 2024, to detain lawyer Sania El-Dahmani, postponing her case to the session on October 17.
This case is related to media statements made by El-Dahmani, where she addressed sensitive topics such as racism in Tunisia, the performance of some ministers, and her criticism of prison conditions. She was charged under Article 54, amid growing controversy over the use of this article in freedom of expression cases.
Condemnation and call to stop the targeting:
The Committee for Justice (CFJ) expressed its strong condemnation of what it described as arbitrary measures against lawyer El-Dahmani, asserting that these practices are part of a series of attacks targeting human rights defenders and opinion leaders in Tunisia. CFJ noted that El-Dahmani faces several cases linked to her media statements and critical views, which directly threaten freedom of expression and undermine confidence in justice in the country.
CFJ calls for an end to all arbitrary measures against El-Dahmani and her immediate release, emphasizing the need to protect freedom of opinion and expression in Tunisia and urging authorities to ensure a fair trial that complies with international standards.