Tunisia’s once-vibrant civil society says it is under siege. Rights groups accuse President Kais Saied’s government of waging a campaign of “intimidation” against independent voices.
Two of the country’s most prominent NGOs — the Tunisian Forum for Social and Economic Rights (FTDES) and the Association of Democratic Women (ATFD) — have had their activities suspended for a month. Authorities cited alleged violations of association regulations, a claim both groups deny.
ATFD president Raja Dahmani said her organisation, which has long championed women’s rights, “fully complies with legal procedures” and has appealed the decision. She lamented that the closure forced the shutdown of counselling centres for women facing violence.
The FTDES, known for its work on migration and environmental justice, condemned what it called “a flagrant attempt to subjugate free voices unwilling to pledge allegiance.” The government did not respond to requests for comment.
Rights defenders say at least 17 NGOs have been suspended since mid-August, in what they describe as a “new wave of repression.” Some believe the crackdown intensified after large protests erupted in the southern city of Gabes over pollution from an ageing chemical plant.
Activists report being harassed through tax audits, banking restrictions, and repeated summonses. “Eighty percent of our energy is now wasted on bureaucracy,” said one NGO leader, calling the state’s strategy “perfidious and effective.”
Fedy Feraihi of the NGO Intersection said the state aims to “destroy all intermediary bodies,” portraying NGOs as opponents. Meanwhile, pro-government media allege foreign funding scandals, including links to billionaire George Soros — claims unverified by AFP.
The independent news site Nawaat was also suspended, calling the move a “political decision” to silence one of Tunisia’s last critical voices.