GENERAL
In Tunisia, freedom of expression, association, and peaceful assembly continue to face pressures, with civil society operating in a constrained environment. On 8th March 2026, on the occasion of International Women’s Rights Day, the Tunisian Association of Democratic Women issued a public call for the adoption of an international legally binding convention to protect human rights defenders. The association emphasised the need for stronger protections for activists, highlighting ongoing challenges faced by civil society actors in expressing their views, organising, and advocating for rights in Tunisia.
Association
On 11th March 2026, the Executive Office of the Tunisian Judges’ Association announced that its president, Anas Hmedi, had received a formal summons to appear before the Sixth Criminal Chamber of the Court of First Instance in Tunis the following day, where he was charged with “obstructing freedom of work.” The case relates to judicial movements and strikes by judges in 2022, including actions taken after the dismissal of a number of judges during that period.
Separately, on 20th March 2026, a Tunisian court sentenced Saadia Mosbah, a prominent anti‑racism activist and leader of the Mnemy Association, to eight years in prison on charges of alleged financial misconduct. Mosbah, who had been detained since May 2024, is known for her advocacy on behalf of African migrants and her campaigns against racial discrimination.
Pro-Palestinian activists in Tunisia continue to face targeting by authorities. In early March 2026, Tunisian authorities detained several activists preparing a new humanitarian aid flotilla to challenge Israeli restrictions and bring aid to Gaza. Those detained included members of the Global Sumud Flotilla steering committee, such as Wael Naouar, Jawaher Channa, and Nabil Channoufi. They were held as part of an inquiry into suspected money laundering, fraud, and misuse of funds collected for the flotilla campaign.
Peaceful Assembly
In February 2026, public protest activity in Tunisia declined compared with the previous month, with 335 events recorded across various governorates. This number is lower than the 501 protest actions recorded in January 2026, as reported by the Tunisian Social Observatory, the monitoring arm of the Tunisian Forum for Economic and Social Rights (FTDES), a Tunisian non‑governmental organisation that tracks socio-economic trends, civil and political rights, and protest activity. Demonstrations in both months focused on a range of social and political issues, including employment rights, civil and political rights, judicial decisions, security, development, environmental concerns, the cost of living, and education, and included formats such as strikes, sit‑ins, hunger strikes, and other public actions. According to the FTDES February 2026 report published on 10th March 2026, protests demanding the right to employment and improved working conditions, such as regularisation of professional status, payment of due wages, and opposition to unfair dismissals, constituted the largest share of mobilisations in February, accounting for more than 40% of events recorded. Civil and political actions, including those linked to judicial rulings and opposition to perceived criminalisation of associative and political activism, also remained significant and nearly matched employment‑related protests in number.
Within this broader context of sustained mobilisation around civil and political rights, specific professional groups have also taken to the streets to contest increasing restrictions. On 13th February 2026, Tunisian lawyers held a demonstration at the Palace of Justice in Tunis to protest restrictions to accessing their clients in prison, especially those convicted on appeal in politically motivated cases and who had appealed to the Court of Cassation. The Tunisian Bar Association publicly supported the protest as a legitimate action to defend legal rights, and human rights observers, including the Committee for Justice (CFJ), urged authorities to guarantee lawyers’ professional independence and ensure they can carry out their duties freely in line with international standards.
Anti-war protesters on Saturday gathered along Habib Bourguiba Avenue in central Tunis to demonstrate in solidarity with Iran amid the attacks by the United States and Israel. https://t.co/jQr4VjvPa5
— Middle East Eye (@MiddleEastEye) March 8, 2026
Protest activity in Tunisia has also extended to broader geopolitical issues and expressions of international solidarity. Around 100–150 protesters in Tunis rallied to condemn U.S. and Israeli military actions against Iran and express solidarity with affected civilians. On 7th March 2026, they gathered along Avenue Habib Bourguiba in the city centre, carrying flags and banners and calling for an end to the hostilities. Participants included local activists and citizens who emphasised the humanitarian consequences of the strikes on both Iranian and Palestinian populations.
Expression
Freedom of expression in Tunisia continues to face restrictions, particularly for legal professionals and activists who voice criticism of the government.
On 23rd February 2026, Ahmed Souab, a prominent lawyer and human rights defender, was released after an appeals court reduced his prison sentence to ten months with a two-year suspended term. He had been arrested for publicly criticising the government and making statements about the trials of political detainees.