On January 14, 2025, the emblematic date marking the anniversary of the Tunisian revolution of 2011, Sihem Ben Sedrine, President of the Truth and Dignity Commission (IVD), began an unlimited hunger strike from her cell in Manouba prison, near Tunis. She is protesting against her unjust and arbitrary imprisonment, based on unfounded accusations and flawed procedures.
Sihem Ben Sedrine, 75, is a leading figure in the struggle for human rights in Tunisia. A staunch opponent of Ben Ali's regime, she helped realize the goals of the Tunisian revolution, notably by chairing the IVD from 2014 to 2018. This organization played an important role in the implementation of transitional justice in Tunisia, documenting serious human rights violations committed between 1955 and 2013 and forwarding 205 files to specialized jurisdictions in which more than 1,000 security officials are being prosecuted. Despite its major contributions, it is facing a clear judicial relentlessness aimed at discrediting transitional justice and perpetuating impunity for past crimes.
Since her detention, Sihem Ben Sedrine has been denouncing the political and judicial manipulations against her, and calling for her immediate release. Her action highlights current authoritarian excesses, marked by the repression of opponents, journalists and human rights defenders in Tunisia.
The Committee for the Respect of Freedoms and Human Rights in Tunisia (CRLDHT) expresses its solidarity with Sihem Ben Sedrine and :
- Demands his immediate release and that of all political prisoners and prisoners of conscience.
- Strongly condemns the use of the judiciary as a means of political repression.
- Calls for national and international mobilization to defend democratic gains and human rights in Tunisia.
On this landmark day for Tunisia, Sihem Ben Sedrine's action reminds us of the crucial importance of continuing the fight for dignity, freedom and justice. The CRLDHT also calls on Tunisian youth to commit themselves peacefully to preserving these values and countering the threats to the country's democratic future.
