Yesterday evening, Tunisian law enforcement arrested Sonia Dahmani, a lawyer and well-known local commentator who had taken refuge inside the Tunisian Bar Association’s headquarters after failing to appear in court as requested. Activists online are reporting on the harsh methods used by police officers, who were in civilian clothing with their faces covered in balaclavas, as seen in the videos circulating on social media. During the operation, a France 24 journalist was also briefly detained, and their technical equipment was confiscated.
Tunisian authorities had initiated an investigation against Dahmani days prior after she made sarcastic comments on Carthage Plus TV regarding the country’s situation with Sub-Saharan African migrants, as reported by her lawyers and local media. On a television show, Sonia Dahmani ironically questioned, “What extraordinary country are we talking about?” in response to another commentator’s statement about migrants from Sub-Saharan African countries attempting to settle in Tunisia. Some social media users found her remarks “degrading” to the country’s image.
Thus, on Thursday, Dahmani received a summons to appear before a judge on Friday at the Tunis court, without the reasons being specified, according to her lawyer Dalila Msaddek. Dahmani expressed to the press, “I refuse to appear in court without knowing the reasons for this summons.” Due to her non-appearance, the judge issued an arrest warrant, rejecting her lawyers’ request to postpone the hearing. According to media reports, Dahmani is being investigated for “using communication networks to spread false information with the aim of endangering public security” and “incitement to hatred” under Decree-Law 54 (Anti Fake News).
Journalists Placed Under Judicial Detention
News outlet Businessnews.com.tn reported that the public prosecutor ordered the judicial detention for 48 hours of radio presenter Borhene Bssais and journalist Mourad Zeghidi following several hours of questioning. Both individuals were affiliated with the Impossible Show program on Radio Ifm, known for their critical political and social analyses in recent months.
Lega per i diritti umani (Human Rights League) in Tunisia strongly criticized Dahmani’s arrest, calling it a “dangerous precedent not even seen in the darkest periods of Tunisia’s despotism.” The organization condemned the security forces’ intrusion and aggression during the arrest at Al-Siyadi’s residence and expressed solidarity with Dahmani and all detainees advocating for freedom of expression.
Tunisian Bar Association Mobilizes
Tunisian lawyers are in uproar over the arrest of Sonia Dahmani, a fellow attorney and commentator, within the Tunisian Bar Association’s premises for her sarcastic remarks on the country’s situation during a radio broadcast.
The president of the regional council of lawyers in Tunis, Laroussi Zguir, announced a general strike in the Greater Tunis districts and a cessation of activities in all courts from Monday, May 13. The council demanded the unconditional and immediate release of Lawyer Dahmani, expressed unwavering support for her, and called on all active forces in the country to unite in defending citizens’ dignity and freedoms.
The Tunisian Bar Association emphasized the sanctity of the legal profession and criticized the police’s intrusion without proper notification or legal procedures, urging for the protection of the legal defense rights. The arrest of Dahmani has prompted widespread solidarity expressions and calls for the release of all detainees targeted under Decree-Law 54.
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