Tunis: Tunisia's authorities are being urged to seize the opportunity to correct what is being termed a grave miscarriage of justice involving the conviction of 34 prominent opposition figures, including human rights defenders and lawyers. These individuals were convicted on charges widely considered unfounded, following a mass trial that has been criticized for numerous due process violations. The defendants, accused of politically motivated charges, continue to endure harsh conditions in detention, exacerbated by recent heatwaves and inadequate prison facilities.

According to Amnesty International, these convictions should be overturned, and all detainees unjustly imprisoned in this case must be released. Amnesty International emphasizes the need for Tunisia to halt the misuse of its justice system as a tool against dissent. Furthermore, it calls for urgent reforms to ensure prison conditions align with international standards, guaranteeing detainees access to their families, legal counsel, and essential healthcare.

The controversy stems from a trial on 18 April 2025, when the Tunis Criminal Court of First Instance sentenced 37 individuals, including notable politicians and activists, on questionable state security charges. The sentences ranged from four to 66 years. Later, on 27 November 2025, the Tunis Court of Appeal upheld the convictions for 34 defendants, imposing sentences of five to 45 years amidst proceedings criticized for significant fair-trial violations. Among those imprisoned are Ayachi Hammami, Chaima Issa, Ahmed Nejib Chebbi, and several others, who have been detained since February 2023 for exercising their fundamental rights.