International Campaign Launched to Free Tunisia’s Political Prisoners Amid Mounting Global Pressure

Watan-Dozens of human rights organizations have launched an international campaign demanding the release of political detainees in Tunisia, who have been held for two years in the case of conspiring against state security. This coincides with the 58th session of the United Nations Human Rights Council in Geneva, which began on February 24, giving the campaign international momentum, according to observers.

The organizers of the campaign have intensified their efforts as the first trial session for these detainees approaches on March 4 at the Tunis Primary Court. The trial will be conducted remotely rather than publicly, sparking widespread discontent among the opposition and raising concerns about its fairness.

Several human rights organizations abroad are promoting the campaign, including the “Association of Torture Victims,” “Citizens Against the Coup Abroad,” the “Zaytouna Organization,” “Najda for Human Rights,” “Justice for Human Rights,” and “Zaranik for Justice and Development,” among others.

Internationalizing the Case

Regarding the campaign’s objectives, Adel Al-Majri, vice president of the Association of Torture Victims and coordinator of the international campaign for the release of political detainees, told Al Jazeera Net that “the campaign aims to internationalize the issue of political detainees, raise awareness of their unjust treatment, and expose the false accusations against them.”

He explained that the campaign aligns with the ongoing 58th session of the UN Human Rights Council, which will discuss reports on human rights situations in several countries, including Tunisia. The High Commissioner is also expected to present his annual report on the global human rights situation.

The trial is seen as a crucial test for the judiciary, given the growing international focus on human rights in Tunisia. While authorities insist that trials are conducted legally, human rights organizations argue they are politically motivated and aimed at eliminating opponents.

Majri hopes that international public opinion will pressure Tunisian authorities to release the detainees.

A few days ago, authorities released three prisoners: Sihem Ben Sedrine, former head of the Truth and Dignity Commission; former Environment Minister Riadh Mouakher; and journalist Mohamed Bougla.

Their release came after a statement by UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk on February 18, calling for their freedom. Some observers saw this as the beginning of a breakthrough in the case of political detainees. However, others were disappointed after Tunisia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued a strongly worded response, accusing the UN commission of spreading misinformation and denying the existence of political prisoners, instead referring to them as individuals convicted of common crimes.

Exposing the Trials

Majri stated that the international campaign seeks to draw global attention to “the violations committed by President Saied’s regime against his political opponents, expose the unjust trials, and reveal the government’s misrepresentations and abuses.”

He claimed that the Tunisian judiciary “now operates under executive orders rather than justice standards.”

Early last month, Tunisian courts handed down severe preliminary sentences against dozens of politicians, including Ennahda leader Rached Ghannouchi, in what is known as the “Instalingo case”—a private company specializing in digital and communication content accused of conspiring against state security.

Regarding the campaign’s activities, Majri said they include exhibitions in European public spaces to highlight the plight of political detainees, showcase their messages from prison, present testimonies from their families, and publish videos and media materials explaining the circumstances of their arrests and imprisonment.

A Just Cause

Belkacem Hassan, a leader in the Ennahda movement, emphasized that the international campaign for the release of political detainees is “not just a temporary effort but a continuous ethical and human rights commitment to confronting state repression, securing the prisoners’ freedom, and restoring the principles of liberty and justice.”

He told Al Jazeera Net that the campaign has successfully mobilized dozens of civil organizations that view the detainees’ case as a just cause. He stressed that human rights organizations play a crucial role in raising global awareness to end their injustice and uphold justice.

Hassan attributed the imprisonment of dozens of opposition figures and activists—despite their political and ideological differences—to their efforts in engaging in a peaceful national dialogue aimed at uniting the opposition against what they consider President Kais Saied’s coup on July 25, 2021.

The organizations involved in this international campaign have published letters from political detainees, including former Democratic Current Secretary-General Ghazi Chaouachi, former Ennahda leader Abdelhamid Jelassi, and Republican Party Secretary-General Issam Chebbi.

In their letters, the detainees described the political motives behind their imprisonment, accusing Kais Saied’s regime of seeking to eradicate all opposition, stifle political and civil life, and instill fear to consolidate power.

They argued that the decision to conduct their trial remotely and behind closed doors was proof of the authorities’ fear of exposing their false claims to the public. They also reaffirmed their innocence and their determination to continue defending democracy and freedom.

Prominent Prisoners

Opponents of Saied claim he “uses state institutions and manipulates the judiciary to fabricate charges of conspiring against state security against his rivals, establishing a one-man rule.” They argue that his extraordinary measures on July 25, 2021—including dissolving parliament, annulling the previous constitution, dissolving the Judicial Council, and drafting a new constitution that expanded his powers—were steps toward authoritarianism.

Among those detained in the case of forming a terrorist group and conspiring against internal and external state security are political figures from various backgrounds. However, most belong to the Ennahda movement, including its 83-year-old leader, Rached Ghannouchi, who was parliament speaker from 2019 to 2021.

In April 2023, Ghannouchi was arrested on charges of incitement against security and conspiracy against the state after making statements perceived as a threat to national unity. He also faces cases related to suspicious financing and alleged links to terrorism, with varying sentences in multiple cases.

Another prominent detainee from Ennahda is Noureddine Bhiri, a lawyer who served as Minister of Justice in 2011 when his party led the Troika government. He was also the head of Ennahda’s parliamentary bloc and was arrested two years ago in the state security conspiracy case.

Several other senior Ennahda figures are imprisoned under similar charges, including former Prime Minister Ali Laarayedh, former Agriculture Minister Mohamed Ben Salem, former Constituent Assembly member Habib Ellouz, interim party leader Mondher Ounissi, and party Secretary-General Ajmi Lourimi.

However, arrests in the conspiracy case have not been limited to Ennahda leaders. In February 2023, several opposition activists from different political backgrounds were also detained, including Ghazi Chaouachi (former Democratic Current party secretary-general), Ridha Belhaj (opposition National Salvation Front leader), Jawhar Ben Mubarak (opposition National Salvation Front leader), and Khayam Turki (independent businessman and politician).

Observers do not rule out the possibility that the detainees may boycott their March 4 trial, which could lead their defense team to also withdraw if the judiciary insists on holding it remotely. This could make the case a pivotal moment in the heated confrontation between the opposition and the authorities, further fueling controversy over their trials.