During a conference organized by the Tunisian League for Human Rights (LTDH), activists and representatives of non-governmental organizations sounded the alarm: more than 600 Tunisian associations would today be threatened with their right to work, between arbitrary suspensions, freezing of accounts and legal proceedings, reports the TAP agency.
Increased pressures and restrictions
Activist Lobna Saïdi denounced a series of “unjustified measures” targeting structures working in fields as varied as human rights, the press, the women’s cause, and even social development.
According to her, these obstacles include suspensions of activity, banking restrictions, and arrests of activists based on “empty” files, according to experts appointed by the courts.
In total, more than 30 national, 17 international and 18 regional associations would be concerned, in what Saïdi describes as “a political process of harassment of civil action”.
The press in the crosshairs
The president of the National Union of Tunisian Journalists (SNJT), Zied Dabbar, affirmed that the suspension of certain associations and media – including Nawaat – was part of a context where civil society is perceived as a disturbing political actor.
He denounced “an unprecedented situation”: the non-issuance of press cards, the refusal of accreditation of foreign media and the marginalization of independent editorial staff.
Mobilization in preparation
For his part, Bassem Trifi, president of the LTDH, judged that there is now a clear direction from political power to stifle the voice of civil society. He announced two protest marches, on November 22, in defense of rights and freedoms, at the initiative of a defense collective of Ahmed Souab; on November 29, organized by women’s associations, as part of the “16 days of activism against violence against women”.
Read also
