The Committee for the Respect of Rights and Freedoms in Tunisia expresses its deep concern over the arrests of several participants in the “Global Sumud Flotilla” initiative, which aimed to break the blockade imposed on the Gaza Strip. These arrests come amid growing concerns regarding the increasingly frequent use of detention and imprisonment in cases related to civic engagement and the expression of political and humanitarian views.
The Committee reiterates that deprivation of liberty must remain an exceptional measure, to be used only when strictly necessary and proportionate, in accordance with the fundamental guarantees of a fair trial and individual rights. The opening of an investigation or the existence of suspicions cannot automatically justify the incarceration of individuals, particularly when they are civil society actors who pose no danger to society or public order.
This situation also takes on particular significance as International Women’s Day (March 8) approaches, given that two female activists are among those detained in this case, raising further questions about the respect for human and legal rights in the handling of these cases.
The presence of female activists among those arrested also raises serious questions about the official rhetoric claiming to support women’s rights, even as recent events point to a troubling trend marked by a surge in prosecutions and arrests targeting women engaged in civic work and the defense of human rights. The recent period has indeed been marked by an unprecedented increase in the number of women prosecuted or detained because of their public activism, a situation that Tunisia has not experienced in its recent history since independence. These prosecutions particularly target feminist activists and defenders of rights and freedoms engaged in principled causes such as human solidarity, the fight against racism, the defense of civil liberties, or resistance to authoritarianism. Some Tunisian women have also been forced to leave the country due to the pressure and persecution they face. This situation raises serious concerns regarding the erosion of women’s rights and the protection of women human rights defenders.
The Committee also notes that the Tunisian Constitution guarantees citizens the right to defend causes they consider just and to express their solidarity with oppressed peoples through peaceful means. This right must not be criminalized or subject to arbitrary restrictions.
The Committee further emphasizes that the Palestinian cause is a matter of principle and a historic consensus among the Tunisian people, and that it should not be subject to prosecution or sanctions. Since 1948, solidarity with the Palestinian people has been an integral part of the Tunisian collective consciousness and of Tunisians’ unwavering commitment to the values of justice, freedom, and the rejection of oppression. The expression of this solidarity or participation in peaceful initiatives to that end therefore constitutes the legitimate exercise of civil liberties.
At the same time, the Committee notes with concern that certain serious cases involving Tunisian sovereignty have still not been subject to the necessary transparency and accountability. This is particularly the case with the attack targeting ships linked to the flotilla in the port of Sidi Bou Saïd, near the presidential palace, regarding which the public has still not been informed of the results of a clear investigation or the determination of responsibility. Conversely, there has been an acceleration of legal proceedings targeting certain participants in this solidarity initiative, raising serious questions about the priorities adopted in handling these cases.
The Committee also notes that the overall situation in the country is marked by growing concerns regarding the independence of the judiciary and guarantees of a fair trial, which fuel fears that judicial proceedings and pretrial detention may be used as tools to exert pressure on or intimidate civil society actors and political opponents.
Finally, the Committee reiterates that it has always defended rights and freedoms regardless of political affiliations or ideological differences, remaining faithful to a consistent principle: the defense of human dignity and the right to freedom for all individuals whose rights have been violated.
Consequently, the Committee calls for the immediate release of those detained in connection with this case, as well as for the observance of all guarantees of a fair trial and the right to a defense.
Respect for individual freedoms and the rule of law remains the cornerstone of any system that claims to uphold human rights and the dignity of its citizens.
Paris, March 6, 2026
