GENERAL
Despite increasing restrictions on civil society organisations and political parties, civic and political mobilisation has continued. A number of political and civil society actors have formed coalitions capable of organising large demonstrations and public campaigns since early 2025, denouncing political authoritarianism, politically motivated trials, and restrictions on fundamental freedoms. These mobilisations have been coordinated by alliances such as the Tunisian Network for Rights and Freedoms and the Nafas Movement, which bring together civil society organisations and opposition parties. These coalitions have organised several demonstrations linked to national events or in protest against prosecutions targeting freedom of opinion.
Separately, since President Kais Saied dissolved the elected Supreme Judicial Council on 12th February 2022 and granted himself the power to appoint judges under the 2022 Constitution, the Association of Tunisian Judges has been subjected to continuous harassment due to its leadership's defence of judicial independence. The Association has repeatedly documented executive interference aimed at undermining fair trial guarantees and targeting judges who continue to defend judicial independence.
Association
Within the context described above, since President Kais Saied dissolved the elected Supreme Judicial Council on 12th February 2022 and granted himself the power to appoint judges under the 2022 Constitution, the Association of Tunisian Judges has been subjected to continuous harassment due to its leadership's defence of judicial independence. The Association has repeatedly documented executive interference aimed at undermining fair trial guarantees and targeting judges who continue to defend judicial independence.
In this context, the Association's President, Judge Anas Hmaidi, has faced multiple legal proceedings linked to his professional activities and his strong opposition to the dismissal of dozens of judges and the dissolution of the Supreme Judicial Council. On 1st July 2026, the Court of Appeal sentenced Judge Hmaidi to one year of immediate imprisonment on charges of "obstructing the freedom to work." The charges stemmed from judicial protests and strikes organised in June 2022 in opposition to the dismissal of several judges, as previously documented.
On 2nd July 2026, Amnesty International, following previous statements, again condemned the Tunisian authorities' handling of irregular migration and their treatment of organisations providing assistance to migrants. Several activists affiliated with these organisations continue to face prosecution, while others remain in detention. Among the most prominent cases is that of Saadia Mosbah, President of the Mnemty Association, who, on 19th March 2026, received an eight-year prison sentence on appeal, as previously documented on the Monitor. Several of her colleagues were also sentenced to prison terms.
Peaceful Assembly
Despite increasing restrictions on civil society organisations and political parties, civic and political mobilisation has continued. A number of political and civil society actors have formed coalitions capable of organising large demonstrations and public campaigns since early 2025, denouncing political authoritarianism, politically motivated trials, and restrictions on fundamental freedoms. These mobilisations have been coordinated by alliances such as the Tunisian Network for Rights and Freedoms and the Nafas Movement, which bring together civil society organisations and opposition parties. These coalitions have organised several demonstrations linked to national events or in protest against prosecutions targeting freedom of opinion.
According to the Observatory's June 2026 report, social mobilisation expanded significantly during the second quarter of 2026, with 1,884 protests recorded, representing a 44% increase compared with the first quarter of the same year. June 2026 was identified as the most contentious month since the beginning of the year, with 867 protest actions documented.
On 25th July 2026, thousands of Tunisians protested in central Tunis to mark five years since President Kais Saied suspended parliament and assumed sweeping emergency powers. Demonstrators called for Saied to leave, the release of political prisoners and greater freedom, while also citing deteriorating living conditions, economic difficulties and restrictions on dissent and press freedom. The protest was organised by the Nafas movement.
Expression
Journalist Haitham al-Makki was sentenced to one year in prison on 15th July 2026 in relation to a case brought by the Habib Bourguiba University Hospital in Sfax, following a post he published on social media concerning conditions within the hospital.
“...prosecuting journalists for their opinions or publications, especially when they are related to public affairs and issues of public interest, represents a worrying trend that would entrench a climate of intimidation and self-censorship, and weaken the societal role played by journalists and media professionals in stimulating public debate on issues of concern to citizens.”
- The National Union of Journalists