The United Nations criticized the Tunisian government on Friday for the recent arrests of lawyers, journalists, and political commentators, asserting that these actions undermine the country’s rule of law.
Ravina Shamdasani, a spokeswoman for the UN Human Rights Office, voiced concerns during a press briefing in Geneva, highlighting that raids on the Tunisia Bar Association over the past week breach international standards that protect lawyers’ independence and roles.
Shamdasani described the government’s actions as intimidation and harassment, clearly infringing on fundamental human rights. She relayed a message from Volker Turk, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, urging Tunisian authorities to uphold freedoms of expression, association, and peaceful assembly. Additionally, Turk called for the immediate release of those arbitrarily detained, including individuals advocating for migrant rights and fighting racial discrimination.
The crackdown has led to widespread international criticism and backlash, with accusations from Tunisian President Kais Saied of foreign interference. The situation has also drawn condemnation from Tunisian civil society as a significant suppression of dissent, reminiscent of the issues that sparked the Arab Spring.
This week, both the European Union and the United States expressed concerns about the arrests, noting their inconsistency with the universal rights enshrined in Tunisia’s constitution. Amid these international reactions, President Saied, who consolidated extensive powers in 2021, instructed the foreign ministry to remind several countries’ ambassadors that Tunisia maintains its sovereignty, emphasizing the nation’s independence in a recently released video.
