Tunisia‘s Escalating Crackdown on Civil Society: A Threat to Human Rights and refugee Protection
Tunisia is experiencing a deeply concerning erosion of its civic space,marked by a systematic crackdown on civil society organizations,especially those dedicated to assisting refugees,asylum seekers,and migrants. This escalating repression, beginning in May 2024, represents a important setback for human rights and threatens the protection of vulnerable populations within the country.Amnesty international and other human rights organizations are documenting a pattern of arbitrary arrests, detentions, asset freezes, and legal obstructions aimed at silencing critical voices and dismantling essential support networks.
Criminalizing Humanitarian Aid & Targeting Key Actors
The current wave of repression centers around the prosecution of individuals and organizations providing vital humanitarian assistance. Key figures, including the directors of Terre d’Asile Tunisie, a legally registered and transparent NGO operating in direct cooperation with Tunisian authorities, have been held in arbitrary pretrial detention as May 2024. Imen Ouardani, former deputy mayor of Sousse, and another former local official are also facing charges simply for allowing the NGO to utilize a municipal building for its activities.
These individuals are being prosecuted under overly broad charges, including “sheltering individuals illegally entering or leaving the territory” and “facilitating the irregular entry, exit, movement or stay of a foreigner.” This framing fundamentally misrepresents legitimate humanitarian work as criminal activity, effectively equating assistance to vulnerable individuals with human smuggling or trafficking – a clear violation of international law, including the UN Convention on Transnational Organized Crime, which Tunisia has ratified. Providing humanitarian support, regardless of an individual’s legal status, is explicitly protected under the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and the UN Declaration on Human Rights Defenders.
The recent conviction of Mustapha Djemali and Abderrazek Krimi, founder and project manager of the CTR (an NGO working with UNHCR), on November 24th, further illustrates this trend. While ultimately released after serving 18 months in pre-trial detention, their conviction sends a chilling message to other organizations and individuals engaged in similar work.
A Broadening Campaign of repression
The targeting extends beyond organizations directly assisting refugees and migrants. Over 15 organizations have been impacted in the last two months alone, facing arbitrary detentions, asset freezes, and court-ordered suspensions. Notable examples include:
* Mnemty: An anti-racism NGO whose presidents remain in detention as May 2024.
* Children of the Moon of Medenine: A children’s rights NGO, with its president detained since November 2024.
* Association for the Promotion of the Right to Difference (ADD): Executive Director Salwa Ghrissa has been held in arbitrary pretrial detention since December 12, 2024.
This crackdown is not limited to legal pressure. The Tunisian League for the Defense of Human Rights (LTDH) reports that authorities have repeatedly denied access to prisons for monitoring purposes, despite a standing memorandum of understanding with the Ministry of Justice. This obstruction hinders independent oversight and raises serious concerns about due process and the treatment of detainees.
The Suspension of UNHCR Activities & its Devastating Consequences
Perhaps the most alarming development is the Tunisian authorities’ decision in June 2024 to suspend the registration and refugee status determination (RSD) activities of the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR). This effectively eliminated the primary avenue for seeking asylum in Tunisia, leaving potentially thousands of refugees, asylum seekers, and migrants – including unaccompanied children – without access to crucial protection mechanisms.
The combined effect of these actions has been devastating. Access to essential services,including emergency shelter,healthcare,child protection,gender-based violence assistance,and legal aid,has been severely curtailed. This leaves vulnerable populations at substantially increased risk of human rights violations and abuse.
A Deliberate Assault on Tunisia’s Civic Space
“The relentless targeting of NGOs, notably those protecting vulnerable refugees and migrants, reveals a deeply worrying state strategy to dismantle the foundations of Tunisia’s civic space,” states Anne Savinel-Barras, president of Amnesty International France.
This isn’t simply a matter of enforcing immigration laws; its a deliberate attempt to stifle dissent, suppress human rights advocacy, and isolate Tunisia from international scrutiny. The implications extend far beyond the immediate impact on affected organizations and individuals. It undermines the rule of law,erodes democratic principles,and jeopardizes Tunisia’s long-term stability.
The Need for Urgent Action
The international community must urgently respond to this escalating crisis. This includes:
* condemning the crackdown: Strong and unequivocal condemnation of the Tunisian authorities’ actions.
* Calling for the immediate release: Demanding the immediate and unconditional release of all individuals detained for exercising their legitimate rights to freedom of association and humanitarian