{"id":25925,"date":"2026-06-05T15:58:48","date_gmt":"2026-06-05T15:58:48","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/protect-lawyers.org\/tunisie-des-organisations-internationales-de-defense-du-droit-et-des-droits-humains-condamnent-lescalade-des-attaques-menees-par-les-autorites-tunisiennes-contre-la-profession-davo\/"},"modified":"2026-06-05T16:00:20","modified_gmt":"2026-06-05T16:00:20","slug":"tunisie-des-organisations-internationales-de-defense-du-droit-et-des-droits-humains-condamnent-lescalade-des-attaques-menees-par-les-autorites-tunisiennes-contre-la-profession-davo","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/protect-lawyers.org\/en\/tunisie-des-organisations-internationales-de-defense-du-droit-et-des-droits-humains-condamnent-lescalade-des-attaques-menees-par-les-autorites-tunisiennes-contre-la-profession-davo\/","title":{"rendered":"Tunisia: International legal and human rights organisations condemn the Tunisian authorities\u2019s escalating attacks on the legal profession, the independence of the judiciary and civil society"},"content":{"rendered":"

39 organisations, including bar associations, lawyers\u2019 groups, judges\u2019 associations and human rights organisations, condemn the Tunisian authorities\u2019 escalating and systematic campaign of intimidation, obstruction and retaliation against lawyers, judges, the Tunisian National Bar Association, magistrates\u2019 associations and independent civil society organisations in the country.<\/strong><\/p>\n

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Since President Sa\u00efed\u2019s consolidation of executive power in 2021 and the summary dismissal of 57 judges and prosecutors by presidential decree in 2022, Tunisia has witnessed a sustained deterioration in the rule of law and respect for Human Rights. The authorities have resorted to using criminal proceedings, suspension orders, travel bans, administrative obstruction and smear campaigns against those who defend human rights, against those who challenge executive interference in the judiciary, document human rights violations and defend or otherwise support victims of such violations.<\/p>\n

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The attacks described in this statement form part of a broader pattern of interference with the independence of the legal profession, the judiciary and civil society in Tunisia. The deterioration of judicial independence, the targeting of lawyers and the restrictions imposed on civil society have serious implications for the rule of law and for access to justice. These attacks strike directly at the right to fair trial including the right to defence, and undermine access to justice, due process, freedom of expression, freedom of association and the rule of law.<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

The authorities\u2019 attack on the Tunisian National Bar Association<\/strong><\/p>\n

The undersigned organisations are particularly alarmed by the Tunisian authorities\u2019 escalating attacks on the Tunisian National Bar Association (ONAT) and the legal profession as a whole. An independent, self-governing legal profession is key to a proper administration of justice for victims of human rights violations. ONAT aims to protect the professional integrity of its members, ensures access to legal services, upholds fair trial guarantees and works to protect the rule of law. Therefore, interference with the ONAT therefore undermines not only the interests of the legal profession but access to justice for all and the integrity of the justice system as a whole.<\/p>\n

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Over the past months, ONAT has urged the authorities to address deteriorating working conditions<\/a> in the courts, including the lack of basic equipment and shortages of judicial and administrative staff. It has also denounced unjustified remote trials, violations of fair trial guarantees, attacks on judicial independence and executive interference in the justice system. Following a failure by authorities to provide any meaningful response, the ONAT convened an extraordinary general assembly on 1 May 2026 to address both lawyers\u2019 professional grievances and the broader crisis in the justice system. The General Assembly adopted a decision to carry out protest actions such as a general strike. Rather than engaging with ONAT\u2019s demands, the Tunis prosecutor challenged the procedures of the assembly in court seeking to nullify the decision that was adopted\u2026 The board of ONAT\u00a0 subsequently announced a mobilisation plan, including regional strikes, red-armband protests in courts and a nationwide general strike<\/a> planned for 18 June 2026.<\/p>\n

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ONAT has made clear that its mobilisation<\/a> is not limited to professional grievances. It aims to defend the legal profession, safeguard the public justice system and uphold fair trial guarantees. The authorities\u2019 refusal to meaningfully engage with these demands, together with subsequent attempts to challenge or obstruct ONAT\u2019s collective action, raise serious concerns about deliberate interference with the legal profession\u2019s independent institutional role in defending judicial independence, fair trial guarantees and the rule of law.\u00a0 The Tunisian authorities\u2019 attempt to delegitimize, obstruct or retaliate against ONAT\u2019s mobilisation is therefore an attack on the legal profession\u2019s institutional role in defending judicial independence, fair trial guarantees and the rule of law.<\/p>\n

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According to Principle 14 of the UN Basic Principles on the Role of Lawyers (UN Basic Principles)<\/a>, in protecting the rights of their clients and promoting the cause of justice, lawyers must seek to uphold human rights. They shall at all times act freely and diligently, in accordance with the law and recognized standards and ethics of the legal profession.\u00a0 Principle 23 protects lawyers\u2019 right to take part in public discussion on matters concerning the law, the administration of justice and the promotion and protection of human rights. Principles 24 and 25 recognise the role of self-governing professional associations of lawyers in protecting the professional integrity of their members and cooperating to ensure effective and equal access to legal services.<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

Lawyers are \u2018essential agents of justice\u2019 and by obstructing their work, the Tunisian authorities undermine the right to a fair trial and the rule of law. Lawyers, as other individuals, are entitled to the full range of human rights including the rights to freedom of expression, association, and peaceful assembly guaranteed under the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) and the African Charter on Human and Peoples\u2019 Rights to which Tunisia.<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

Targeting lawyers for their professional duties<\/strong><\/p>\n

The attack on ONAT is part of a wider and systematic assault on lawyers who defend political opponents, journalists, judges, human rights defenders and victims of human rights violations. Lawyers in Tunisia have faced prosecution, arbitrary detention, travel bans, unfair trials and other forms of retaliation because of the cases they undertake and the clients they represent. Such assault violates not only the human rights of the lawyers, but also those of their clients, and have a serious chilling effect on the right to defence. This contravenes Principle 16 of the UN Basic Principles on the Role of the Lawyers which requires governments to ensure that lawyers are able to perform all of their professional functions without intimidation, hindrance, harassment or improper interference. It also violates Article 14 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), which protects the right to access a legal representative of one\u2019s own choosing.<\/p>\n

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The case of Ayachi Hammami<\/strong> illustrates this pattern. Hammami, a prominent lawyer and human rights defender. He opposed measures taken by the president that undermine judicial independence and the rule of law including the summary dismissal of judges and prosecutors in June 2022. Hammami was the spokesperson for the defense committee of the dismissed judges. In January 2023, he was charged with Decree-Law No. 54 based on statements he made to the media in his role qs spokesperson. He acted as defense lawyers for journalists, political opposition members, activists and HRDs including in the so-called \u201cconspiracy against state security\u201d in 2023. He was subsequently added to the list of suspects, charged, banned from travelling and appearing in public places, and imprisoned to serve a five-year sentence. UN experts have expressed their shock <\/a>at his conviction as a result of\u00a0 his work defending those accused in the case and warned that prosecuting legal professionals for performing their duties threatens the integrity and fairness of legal proceedings in Tunisia.<\/p>\n

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Hammami is among dozens of lawyers<\/a> facing judicial harassment and serious risk of reprisal for exercising their professional duties and right to freedom of expression. On. To date, 8 lawyers are deprived of their liberty<\/a>, including a former Bar President. Furthermore, 5 lawyers have been forced into exile and 12 lawyers are subject to judicial harassment. This includes:<\/p>\n