On Rule of law and human rights situation in Tunisia, particularly the case of Sonia Dahmani

B100525/2025

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

(2025/2988(RSP))

The European Parliament,

– having regard to Rules 150 of its Rules of Procedure,

A. whereas Tunisian lawyer, writer and media commentator Sonia Dahmani was arrested in front of cameras on 11 May 2024, and sentenced to four years in prison solely for exercising her right to freedom of expression; whereas she is facing multiple trials and could be sentenced with a total of 24 years;

B. whereas Ms Dahmani is subjected to cruel, inhuman and degrading detention conditions, including denial of adequate medical care;

1. Strongly condemns the arbitrary detention, judicial harassment and conviction of lawyer and media commentator Sonia Dahmani solely in retaliation for exercising her right to freedom of expression;

2. Demands the immediate unconditional release of Sonia Dahmani and all other political prisoners, human rights defenders and prisoners of conscience; urges Tunisian authorities to drop all charges in the pending cases against her;

3. Denounces Sonia Dahmani’s unacceptable detention conditions: lacking medical care, limited communication with family and counsel, and delayed hearings, alongside multiple cases aimed at extending her detention;

4. Firmly denounces President Kais Saied´s fierce repression of dissent, crushing of political opposition, targeting of civil society, curtailing of the freedom of expression, undermining of the independence of the judiciary, and the crack down on migrants, asylum seekers and refugees, and those assisting them;

5. Condemns the politically motivated “conspiracy case” from April 2025, unjustly sentencing 37 persons, and other ongoing unfair proceedings, targeting political opposition, activists, lawyers, researchers, demonstrating the repressive practices of Tunisian authorities against any dissent;

6. Calls on the Tunisian government to repeal the cybercrime Decree-Law 54;

7. Calls on all the Commission, the HRVP and Member States to firmly and publicly condemn the deteriorating human rights crisis and crackdown on dissent by the Tunisian government;

8. Recalls the European Parliament´s rejection of the Special Measure for Tunisia from 14 March 2024, and reiterates its call on the European Commission to condition macro-financial assistance to Tunisia upon measurable improvements in human rights, democracy and rule of law; ensure EU funding does not empower institutions and practices contributing to human rights violations and state propaganda, notably the Tunisian justice and interior ministries;

9. Calls on the European Commission to prioritise long-term political and financial support to Tunisia´s civil society and media, and decisively respond to the Tunisian government´s decision to block civil society organisation’s bank accounts;

10. Urges the Commission to examine the July 2023 EU–Tunisia Memorandum of Understanding for consistency with Articles 2 and 21 of the Treaty in light of Tunisia’s deteriorating human rights situation, and consider its suspension while continuing to engage to achieve concrete human rights improvements;

11. Calls on the EU delegation and Member States embassies in Tunisia to observe trials of those arbitrarily detained and visit them;

12 Calls on EU Member States to facilitate visas, asylum and emergency grants for human rights defender at risk of arbitrary detention;

13. Instructs its President to forward this resolution to EU institutions, HRVP, the Member States, and Tunisia;