Journalist and lawyer Sonia Dahmani found freedom this Thursday, November 27, 2025.
Thursday, November 27, lawyer and columnist Sonia Dahmani left prison after a year and a half behind bars. His release comes following a request for conditional release submitted by his defense committee.
Several organizations, including the journalists’ union, welcomed this decision while denouncing the nature of the proceedings brought against her. The case brings to the forefront accusations of abuses in the application of legislation relating to digital crimes.
Five prosecution cases
According to the press release from the journalists’ union, Sonia Dahmani spent nearly 18 months in detention, an incarceration described as “unjust” by her supporters.
She faced five cases, four of which were based on Decree 54, a controversial text supposed to combat crimes linked to information systems but widely criticized for its use against journalists and opponents.
The SNJT reacts
The union recalls that, in a rule of law, deprivation of liberty must remain an exception, incarceration must be limited to cases of strict necessity and framed by solid procedural guarantees.
In its reaction, the Tunisian national union of journalists expressed its satisfaction with Dahmani’s release, while emphasizing that his place was never behind bars.
The organization also called for the release of other detained journalists, citing in particular Chadha Hadj Mabrouk, Mourad Zeghidi and Borhane Bsaies.
She urges the authorities to put an end to the use of Decree 54 and other repressive legislation – such as the Telecommunications Code or the Penal Code – in the processing of files related to journalistic expression.
The Minister of Justice orders his conditional release
The conditional release of lawyer Sonya Dahmani was decided by the Minister of Justice, Leïla Jaffel following the advisory opinion of a specialized commission, according to an informed source. This measure comes on the basis of an internal advisory opinion, and not in response to a formal request from the defense.
Ministerial decision and advisory opinion
A source close to the matter assured Mosaïque FM that the parole decision was taken at the level of the Ministry of Justice, after consultation with the parole regime commission. This commission provided a technical opinion, but the final arbitration rests with the minister, who signed the document allowing the lawyer’s immediate exit.
Progress of the release
In the morning, the Manouba prison services received the notification validating the placement of Sonia Dahmani under the conditional release regime. The order was then executed without delay, allowing the lawyer to regain her freedom early in the afternoon.
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