The Committee for the Respect of Freedoms and Human Rights in Tunisia (CRLDHT) expresses its deep concern following the ruling handed down on July 13, 2026, by the criminal chamber of the anti-terrorism division of the Tunis Court of Appeals, which increased the sentence imposed on Judge Béchir Akremi to twenty-nine years in prison, thereby increasing the twenty-three-year sentence handed down at the trial court level.

Béchir Akremi, who has been in custody since February 12, 2023, is facing several criminal proceedings initiated as a result of his work as a public prosecutor and later as a chief investigating judge in several particularly sensitive cases, notably those related to the political assassinations of Chokri Belaïd and Mohamed Brahmi.

The government accuses him, in particular, of failing to execute an arrest warrant, of concealing evidence, and of committing various irregularities in the conduct of certain investigations. His defense strongly contests these charges, arguing that the charges lack any serious basis and are part of a broader effort to exploit the justice system against judges who have become undesirable.

Beyond the individual case of Béchir Akremi, this conviction comes amid a context marked by a profound transformation of the Tunisian judicial system since July 25, 2021. The dissolution of the elected High Judicial Council, the dismissal of fifty-seven judges by presidential decree, the prosecution of several judges, the pressure exerted on lawyers, journalists, and political opponents, as well as the proliferation of politically motivated trials, reflect a continuing erosion of the rule of law and the independence of the judiciary.

The Béchir Akremi case is part of this trend. It follows several other proceedings brought against judges, notably Judge Hamadi Rahmani and Anas Hmaidi, president of the Association of Tunisian Judges (ALT), and reinforces the concerns expressed by numerous national and international organizations regarding the use of the judicial system as a tool to silence critical or independent voices.

This case also raises serious concerns regarding Tunisia’s international obligations. In its Opinion No. 2/2025, the United Nations Working Group on Arbitrary Detention found that Béchir Akremi’s deprivation of liberty was arbitrary, called for his immediate release, and urged the Tunisian authorities to provide him with effective redress in accordance with international law. The safeguards provided for in the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights, and the United Nations Basic Principles on the Independence of the Judiciary require that any proceedings against a judge be conducted in strict compliance with the requirements of independence, impartiality, legality, and the rights of the defense.

The CRLDHT reiterates that the independence of judges does not exempt them from criminal liability when offenses are alleged. However, it requires that any investigation or trial be conducted only after their immunity has been lifted by the competent independent bodies, based on credible evidence, with absolute respect for the guarantees of a fair trial, and free from any political pressure. The independence of the judiciary is not a privilege granted to judges; it is a fundamental guarantee for all citizens.

The CRLDHT :

• Condemns this further increase in the sentence imposed on Judge Béchir Akremi at a time when the guarantees of judicial independence appear to be seriously compromised;
• Calls on the Tunisian authorities to comply with the opinion of the United Nations Working Group on Arbitrary Detention as well as with their international human rights obligations, and demands his immediate release;
• Calls for any legal proceedings brought against judges to fully respect the principles of independence, impartiality, and legality, as well as the rights of the defense;
• Calls for an end to prosecutions and retaliatory measures against judges in connection with the performance of their duties or their professional positions;
• Calls on the United Nations, the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights, the European Union, and international organizations of judges and human rights defenders to monitor developments in this case—and, more broadly, the state of judicial independence in Tunisia—with the utmost attention.

Finally, the CRLDHT reaffirms that the fight against impunity—including in cases of terrorism and political assassinations—can only be credible if it is carried out by a judiciary that is independent, impartial, and respectful of fundamental rights. A judiciary subject to interference by the government loses its legitimacy and permanently undermines citizens’ trust in state institutions.

Paris, July 19, 2026