What changed

B100518/2025

P10_TA(2025)0304

European Parliament resolution on Rule of law and human rights situation in Tunisia, particularly the case of Sonia Dahmani

( 2025/2988(RSP))

PE778.991

European Parliament resolution of 27 November 2025 on the rule of law and human rights situation in Tunisia, particularly the case of Sonia Dahmani (2025/2988(RSP))

The European Parliament,

– having regard to Rule 150(5) of its Rulesprevious ofresolutions Procedure,on Tunisia,

Whereas Tunisian authorities have crushed political opposition, harassed civil society, curtailed freedom of expression and the press, undermined judicial independence intensified crackdowns on migrants, asylum seekers and refugees;

– having regard to the EU-Tunisia Association Agreement,

whereas Sonia Dahmani, a lawyer and media personality is serving a 50-months sentence, solely for exercising her right to freedom of expression; whereas she faces further charges that could extend her sentence up to twenty-four years; whereas in prison, Dahmani is subjected to cruel and inhuman conditions, was denied access to medical care, and her communications with family and legal team are restricted;

– having regard to the EU-Tunisia Memorandum of Understanding,

whereas before being arrested she faced threats linked to her public stances against racism, shrinking civil and political liberties and migration policy; whereas on July, her sister Ramla Dahmani, was sentenced in absentia, on charges of spreading false news;

– having regard to Rules 150(5) and 136(4) of its Rules of Procedure,

Whereas Tunisia and the EU signed a migration Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) in 2023 linking substantial funding to border control; despite Tunisia’s grave human rights violations;

A. whereas lawyer and journalist Sonia Dahmani was arrested in May 2024 at the Tunisian Bar Association’s office following her appearance on the TV channel Carthage+; whereas since her arrest she has faced five separate court proceedings and has been convicted three times; whereas further trials are planned and her total sentence could reach up to 24 years;

whereas throughout 2024 and 2025, Tunisian authorities escalated the crackdown on freedom of expression, peaceful assembly and all forms of dissent; whereas mass trials and heavy sentencing of members of the opposition under counterterrorism or cybercrime laws further contributed to a crisis in the rule of law; whereas in April 2025, 37 people were convicted in the politically motivated “Conspiracy Case”;

B. whereas Sonia Dahmani is subjected to inhuman and degrading detention conditions, without access to medical care;

Strongly condemns the crackdown on any form of dissent in Tunisia and urges the HRVP and Member States to publicly denounce the deterioration of the human rights situation;

C. whereas her sister Ramla Dahmani was sentenced in absentia in July 2025 on charges of spreading false news;

Urges the authorities to immediately and unconditionally release Sonia Dahmani and all those detained solely for exercising their right to freedom of expression and/or association; demands to drop all charges against her and her sister;

1. Condemns the arbitrary detention, judicial harassment and sentencing of lawyer and media commentator Sonia Dahmani;

Expresses deep concerns over her detention conditions, requiring the authorities to guarantee access to her lawyer and family members and to provide the necessary medical care;

2. Demands the immediate and unconditional release of Sonia Dahmani and all those detained for exercising their right to freedom of expression, including political prisoners and human rights defenders; urges the Tunisian authorities to drop all charges against Sonia Dahmani and her sister and to refrain from harassing their family;

Encourages the authorities to end all investigations and prosecutions based solely on the legitimate exercise of the right to freedom of expression;

3. Denounces the conditions under which Sonia Dahmani is being held, including inadequate medical care, limited communication with her family and legal counsel, and delayed hearings, alongside multiple cases aimed at extending her detention;

Asks the authorities to promptly amend the Cybercrime Decree-Law 54, the penal code, the telecommunications code, anti-terrorism law articles and other abusive legislations used to limit freedom of expression and political freedoms;

4. Insists that the Tunisian authorities protect freedom of assembly and expression, guarantee judicial independence, prevent executive interference in judicial functions and uphold the rights and freedoms guaranteed by the Tunisian Constitution; condemns the escalating arbitrary detentions, politically motivated persecutions and restrictions on freedoms;

Requires the Commission to review, with a view to suspend, the compatibility of the EU-Tunisia MoU with Article 2 and Article 21 of the Treaty in light of the decline of Tunisia’s human rights record and to tie future relations with Tunisia to genuine measurable human rights progress;

5. Calls for the full repeal of Decree-Law 54, which has led to prosecutions for expressions of opinion, and of all abusive legislation used to limit freedoms;

Takes note of the recent postponement of the Association Council and demands the Commission to make the human rights situation the main agenda item of any future meeting;

6. Calls for the EU institutions to express deep concern regarding the deterioration of human rights in Tunisia and to pursue coordinated diplomatic action aimed at facilitating the release of political detainees;

Insists that human rights are non-negotiable and should not be subordinated to migration management policies;

7. Calls on the Tunisian authorities to comply with their obligations under international human rights law and the EU-Tunisia Association Agreement; takes note of the recent postponement of the EU-Tunisia Association Council and asks the Commission to make the human rights situation the centre of any political dialogue, financial assistance, security cooperation and agreements with Tunisia;

Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the EU institutions, Member States, and the Tunisian authorities.

8. Expresses unwavering solidarity with Tunisia’s civil society, human rights defenders, independent media and journalists, and lawyers’ associations; calls on the Commission to respond to the Tunisian Government’s decision to block civil society organisations’ bank accounts; underlines the critical role that legal professionals play in safeguarding the rule of law and the integrity of the judicial system;

9. Encourages Tunisia to tackle the multiple challenges across the region by assuming a role in upholding human rights and democracy;

10. Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Council, the Commission, the VP/HR, the governments and parliaments of the Member States, and the Tunisian authorities.