Tunisia Lawyers Strike as Police Arrest Prominent Government Critic

The Tunisian Lawyers Council has called for a nationwide strike on Monday, May 13, 2024, following the dramatic arrest of Sonia Dahmani, a prominent lawyer and government critic, during a police raid on the country's bar association headquarters on Saturday. Dahmani was charged with distributing false information and disrupting public order under Tunisia's controversial Decree 54, an anti-fake news law used to pursue critics of President Kais Saied.

Why this matters: The arrest of Sonia Dahmani and the subsequent crackdown on dissidents in Tunisia raises concerns about the erosion of democratic values and the suppression of free speech in the country. This incident has broader implications for the region, as it may embolden other authoritarian leaders to restrict civil liberties and silence opposition voices.

The arrest sparked outrage among human rights defenders in Tunisia, who condemned the "blatant and unprecedented attack on the Tunisian legal profession" and called it a prelude to establishing "a state of violations and tyranny." The Tunisian General Labour Union, the country's most powerful workers group, joined other civil society organizations, activists, and lawyers in denouncing the arrest.

Dahmani's arrest came after she made sarcastic remarks about Tunisia on a local television program last week, responding to a claim that sub-Saharan migrants were seeking to settle in the country by asking, "What extraordinary country are we talking about?" Police stormed the bar association building, where Dahmani's advocates had gathered to protest her arrest warrant, forcing a live French television broadcast to abruptly stop.

The incident is the latest in a series of crackdowns on dissidents, including political opponents, non-governmental organizations, journalists, and Black migrants. Since the implementation of Decree 54 in September 2022, over 60 journalists, lawyers, and opposition figures have been prosecuted according to the National Union of Tunisian Journalists.

Two other prominent critics, television and radio presenter Borhen Bssais and columnist Mourad Zeghidi, were also arrested on Saturday evening and placed under a 48-hour detention warrant after making critical comments about the developing situation in Tunisia. They are set to appear before an examining magistrate on charges similar to Dahmani's.

The nationwide strike called by the Tunisian Lawyers Council aims to protest the raid on the bar association headquarters and the arrest of Sonia Dahmani. Lawyers demand respect for the law and plan to file criminal complaints against the security forces involved in the raid. The council also announced the establishment of a National Observatory for Lawyers to monitor violations against legal professionals, journalists, and citizens.

Tunisia has faced growing political turmoil since President Kais Saied took office in 2019 following free elections. Saied has since consolidated power, shutting down the elected parliament and moving to rule by decree. While he rejects accusations of staging a coup, critics argue that his actions aim to stifle dissent and restrict freedom of speech in the country.

Key Takeaways

• Tunisian Lawyers Council calls for nationwide strike on May 13, 2024, after lawyer Sonia Dahmani's arrest.
• Dahmani was charged with distributing false information and disrupting public order under Decree 54.
• Her arrest sparked outrage among human rights defenders, who condemned the "blatant attack" on the legal profession.
• Over 60 journalists, lawyers, and opposition figures have been prosecuted under Decree 54 since September 2022.
• The strike aims to protest the raid on the bar association and demand respect for the law and freedom of speech.