On 27 November 2025, a Tunis Appeal Court sentenced 34 defendants in the politically motivated “Conspiracy Case” to prison terms ranging from 5 to 45 years, in what human rights organizations have widely condemned as a sham trial lacking basic fair-trial guarantees. Shortly after, Tunisian authorities arrested political activist Chaima Issa, human rights lawyer Ayachi Hammami, and prominent opposition figure Ahmed Nejib Chebbi, enforcing sentences of 20, 5, and 12 years respectively against them.
Chaima Issa is a well-known political activist who has participated in protests against government repression and advocated for civil liberties; she was detained at a demonstration in Tunis to begin serving her 20-year sentence. Ayachi Hammami, a human rights lawyer, was arrested at his home to enforce his 5-year sentence after being targeted in the same case that originally saw him act as defense counsel before becoming a defendant himself. Ahmed Nejib Chebbi, a historic opposition leader and cofounder of the National Salvation Front, was also taken into custody to serve his 12-year sentence following the appeal judgment. These individuals represent a cross-section of Tunisia’s political opposition, including activism, civil society leadership, and legal defence work.
From an international human rights perspective, the “Conspiracy Case” raises serious concerns about the erosion of fundamental freedoms in Tunisia. The use of broad charges such as “conspiracy against state security” against peaceful critics, political opponents, and lawyers undermines protections for freedom of expression, peaceful assembly, and fair trial rights guaranteed under both Tunisian law and international human rights treaties. As Rights Defenders, we argue that these developments reflect a broader trend in Tunisia toward the shrinking of civil space and judicial independence, where criminal sentences not only serve as punishment for individuals but also function as a deterrent against opposition and political pluralism.
References:
1. https://www.hrw.org/news/2025/12/09/tunisia-prominent-activists-held-in-conspiracy-case
2. https://www.amnestyusa.org/press-releases/tunisia-quash-unjust-heavy-convictions-in-conspiracy-case/
3. https://amnesty.ca/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/6TH-UA_52_23_Tunisia.pdf
4. https://www.amnesty.org/en/petition/free-tunisia-conspiracy-case-defendants/
