Judul : CPJ Demands End to Harassment of Jailed Tunisian Commentator Sonia Dahmani
link : CPJ Demands End to Harassment of Jailed Tunisian Commentator Sonia Dahmani
CPJ Demands End to Harassment of Jailed Tunisian Commentator Sonia Dahmani
The Committee for the Protection of Journalists urges Tunisian officials to promptly and without any conditions free political analyst Sonia Dahmani, provide her with immediate medical attention, and stop the legal persecution against her.
On November 11, the Tunis Court of First Instance delayed Dahmani's criminal trial, connected to her media statements about prison conditions in Tunisia, to an unknown date because of incomplete paperwork, according to her attorney Sami Benghazi, who informed CPJ.
At the hearing, she seemed delicate and started crying, stating, "I want to go home."
Dahmani, who is also a legal professional, is currently serving a sentence that is almost five years long due to three convictions under Cybercrime Decree-Law 54. She could potentially receive an additional 20 years if found guilty in two pending cases. She resides in a small shared cell, lacking sufficient clothing in extremely cold conditions, and claims she was sexually harassed by a guard following her arrest in 2024, according to her sister Ramla, who spoke to CPJ.
Ramla, who is living in exile, stated that Dahmani's health has worsened while she is held at Manouba Prison in Tunis, where she has not received proper medical treatment for conditions that emerged during her detention, such as diabetes, thyroid issues, high blood pressure, and pain in her back and shoulders. Ramla has been given a prison sentence in her absence due to her sister's activities.
Urgent action is required from Tunisian authorities to release Sonia Dahmani without delay and put an end to this terrible judicial persecution, which arises purely from the peaceful exercise of free speech," stated Carlos MartÃnez de la Serna, Chief Programs Officer at CPJ. "The detention and mistreatment she has faced demonstrate that Decree-Law 54 has turned into a consistent tool for punishing opposition and suppressing independent voices in Tunisia.
On November 7, the appellate court called Dahmani for a hearing regarding a case where she was initially given a two-year sentence in 2024 for "spreading false information" and "encouraging hate speech" following her comments on IFM radio and Carthage Plus television channel about racism toward migrants in Tunisia. The hearing was rescheduled to November 21 at her request.
Dahmani was detained on May 11, 2024, following a raid by masked officers on the Bar Association building in Tunis, where she had sought shelter.
The harassment of Dahmani is part of a broader suppression of press freedom under Cybercrime Decree-Law 54, introduced by President Kais Saied in 2022, which has been criticized by the CPJ for being utilized to intimidate journalists, political analysts, and legal professionals.
CPJ urges Tunisian officials to:
make sure that all laws governing media and online communication adhere to global human rights principles,
reinstate the safeguards outlined in Decree-Law 115 from 2011, which ensured freedom of the press and the confidentiality of journalistic sources.
guarantee complete relief for all individuals held under Decree-Law 54, including proper medical treatment, unrestricted access to legal representation, and just, open trials.
The CPJ urges Tunisia's global allies to apply every available political and financial influence, such as individual discussions and cooperation, to encourage the Tunisian government to:
free Dahmani,
honor Tunisia's commitments under international human rights law, and
advocate for measurable advancements in safeguarding journalists, analysts, and other essential voices.
If the Tunisian government does not quickly take action to halt this oppressive trend, the nation's declining image as a leader in media freedom within the Arab world will be completely ruined.
Copyright 2025 Journalists' Protection Committee. All rights reserved. Distributed by AllAfrica Global Media (okay1).
Tagged: Press and Media, Tunisia, Governance, North Africa
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