Event Summary
Between 10 and 25 December 2025, Tunisia experienced a period of targeted trials against opponents, humanitarian and anti-racist activists, accompanied by growing mobilisation of civil society in response to the proliferation of trials targeting political figures, associations and activists.
On 12 December 2025, Abir Moussi, a prominent opposition figure, was sentenced to 12 years in prison in a case described by her supporters and NGOs as politically motivated. This sentence is in addition to other previous prosecutions and detentions she has faced since her arrest in October 2023. On 15 December 2025, the trial of Cherifa Riahi, Yadh Bousselmi and Mohamed Joo, all members of the NGO Terre d’Asile Tunisie, opened in Tunis on charges related to their humanitarian work with refugees and migrants. The hearing was adjourned until 5 January 2026, with the defendants remaining in detention, a situation denounced as unfair and arbitrary by human rights organisations. On 23 December 2025, the trial of Saadia Mosbah, an anti-racism activist who has been detained for over a year and a half, began in Tunis. She is accused of “money laundering” and illicit enrichment, charges that her supporters strongly contest.
During this fortnight, demonstrations of support also took place in Tunisia: rallies brought together supporters and civil society organisations to demand the release of political prisoners and prisoners of conscience, denouncing what they consider to be the criminalisation of civil society work and a weakening of the rule of law. On 13 December 2025, a national demonstration for freedoms was held in Tunis. On 15 December, a sit-in in support of Cherifa Riahi and other members of the NGO Terre d’Asile Tunisie was organised in front of the Tunis Courthouse. On 22 December, a solidarity rally for Saadia Mosbah was held in front of the Tunis Court of First Instance after her release was denied.