The Tunisian government on Oct. 27Â ordered a prominent advocacy organization, the Tunisian Forum for Social & Economic Rights (FTDES), to suspend its activities for one month. The organization has been outspoken in its criticism of President Kais Saied’s crackdown on Black African asylum seekers and migrants in the country, and his promotion of racist tropes about migration. The move comes amid a broader repression of civil society.
From The New Humanitarian, Oct. 31
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Tunisia urged to overturn conspiracy trial convictions
Human Rights Watch urged Tunisia on Nov. 14 to overturn convictions in the so-called “Conspiracy Case” appeal to be heard next week, demanding the release of all detainees.
The 37 defendants—including opponents of President Kais Saied, activists, lawyers, and researchers—were charged under numerous articles of Tunisia’s Penal Code and the 2015 Counterterrorism Law. The case was first brought to the Tunis Court of First Instance in April of this year, and the defendants were sentenced to between four and 66 years of imprisonment for “conspiracy against state security” and terrorism offenses. (Jurist)