The UN human rights chief has called on Tunisia to halt escalating repression against civil society, media, and opposition figures.
Volker Turk said continued repression and civic space restrictions undermine rights guaranteed by Tunisia’s constitution and international obligations framework commitments.
Authorities recently suspended Tunisian branches of Avocats Sans Frontieres and targeted the Tunisian League for Human Rights with similar measures.
Avocats Sans Frontieres said it received a 30-day suspension from authorities without clear explanation or detailed justification provided officially stated.
The UN rights office noted authorities often justify suspensions citing funding issues and alleged audit irregularities in civil groups operations.
We are observing growing use of judicial sanctions restricting association rights with limited regard for legality proportionality principles Turk said.
He also warned that Tunisia is simultaneously imposing increasingly severe restrictions on media freedom and journalistic activity nationwide across platforms.
Journalist Zied el-Heni was arrested after criticising court decisions and judges accused of harming reputations according to lawyer reports AFP.
He remains in pre-trial detention while twenty-eight journalists were arrested last year under 2022 information systems decree-law provisions legal framework.
Turk urged immediate unconditional release of all detainees held for expressing views protected under international human rights law standards globally.
He said restrictions on fundamental freedoms must be exceptional, lawful, necessary, proportionate, non-discriminatory, and subject to due process safeguards oversight.
Turk said upholding rule of law in Tunisia requires stronger safeguards, civic space protection, and rights-based legislative reform framework alignment.