General update
In April 2025, the European Commission issued a unified list of “safe third countries of origin,” and included Tunisia among them.
In a statement issued by The Tunisian Forum for Social & Economic Rights (FTDES), the organisation noted that classifying any country of origin as “safe” implies that there is no risk of persecution and that the rule of law is respected, thereby depriving its citizens of the right to fair and effective asylum procedures on the assumption that they are not in need of international protection. The organisation also considers the classification of Tunisia as a ‘safe country of origin’ as part of an undeclared political deal linked to the memorandum of understanding signed in July 2023 aimed at whitewashing the deviation into authoritarianism by Tunisia.
Although Tunisia was added to the list of ‘safe third countries of origin’, the ongoing human rights situation however indicates challenges in the country.
In a recent statement in April 2025, UN Human Rights Chief Volker Türk reiterated his call on the Tunisian authorities to end the wider pattern of political persecution, arrests, arbitrary detentions and imprisonment of dozens of human rights defenders, lawyers, journalists, activists and politicians, and to respect all their human rights, including the rights to freedom of opinion and expression. Likewise, since February several UN experts have highlighted the need to end all forms of persecution of opponents and activists. Referring to the recent harsh and lengthy prison sentences against 37 individuals in Tunisia in the “conspiracy case”, experts call on Tunisian authorities to refrain from using broad national security and counter-terrorism legislation to silence dissent and curb civic space.
Expression
In April 2025, Ahmed Souab, lawyer, retired judge, and member of the defence team in the “Conspiracy Against State Security” case was arrested after his house was raided by security forces. He was taken to the Judicial Anti-Terrorism Unit on 21st April where a decision was made to detain him while denying him the right to a lawyer for 48 hours.
In solidarity with Ahmed Souab, the FIDH issued a statement noting that this arrest followed public statements in which he criticised the conditions of the so-called "conspiracy against state security" trial and denounced the executive’s interference in judicial affairs.
In separate developments, on 24th January 2025, the Tunis Court of Appeal sentenced lawyer Sonia Dahmani to 18 months in prison for publicly denouncing the racism faced by sub-Saharan migrants in Tunisia during an interview on IFM radio. The case followed her arrest on 11th May 2024 after which Dahmani was charged for “using information and communication systems to deliberately spread false information endangering public safety, defaming individuals, and inciting actions against a public official” under Decree-Law 2022-54, a controversial piece of legislation criticized for restricting freedom of expression. During her detention, Dahmani reportedly endured degrading treatment, including invasive body searches and extended denial of access to both her legal counsel and family. This ruling was widely condemned by local and international human rights organizations, who view it as part of a broader pattern of legal harassment aimed at silencing professionals critical of the government.
Peaceful Assembly
On 23rd May 2025, Mohamed Ali Rtimi, a human rights defender and member of the Association tunisienne pour la justice et l’égalité (DAMJ), which advocates for justice, equality, and LGBTQIA+ inclusion in Tunisia, was violently arrested during a peaceful protest in Tunis. Rtimi was reportedly detained without a warrant, physically assaulted, and threatened while in custody. He was physically and verbally abused by police officers at the police station after he refused to be interrogated without his lawyer, and thereafter placed in pre-trial detention.