Freedom of Association

On 15 July 2026, the Tunis Court of First Instance held a hearing to examine the appeal filed by the Tunisian League for Human Rights (LTDH) against the decision to freeze its activities, issued in April 2026. The court postponed the case until 29 July 2026.

Since President Kais Saied dissolved the elected Supreme Judicial Council on 12 February 2022 and granted himself the power to appoint judges under the 2022 Constitution, the Association of Tunisian Judges has been subjected to continuous harassment due to its leadership's defence of judicial independence. The Association has repeatedly documented executive interference aimed at undermining fair trial guarantees and targeting judges who continue to defend judicial independence. In this context, the Association's President, Judge Anas Hmaidi, has faced multiple legal proceedings linked to his professional activities and his strong opposition to the dismissal of dozens of judges and the dissolution of the Supreme Judicial Council. On 1 July 2026, the Court of Appeal sentenced Judge Hmaidi to one year of immediate imprisonment (Case No. 5718) on charges of "obstructing the freedom to work." The charges stemmed from judicial protests and strikes organized in June 2022 in opposition to the dismissal of several judges.

On 2 July 2026, Amnesty International, following previous statements, again condemned the Tunisian authorities' handling of irregular migration and their treatment of organizations providing assistance to migrants. Several activists affiliated with these organizations continue to face prosecution, while others remain in detention. Among the most prominent cases is that of Saadia Mosbah, President of the Mnemty Association, who, on 19 March 2026, received an eight-year prison sentence on appeal. Several of her colleagues were also sentenced to prison.

Freedom of expression

All reports, especially those from “the journalists’ union”; agree on the continued restrictions against journalists and media freedom. Most recently, journalist Haitham al-Makki was sentenced to one year in prison on 15 July 2026 (based on punitive legal provisions) because of statements or posts on social media.

Freedom of peaceful assembly

Despite increasing restrictions on civil society organizations and political parties, civic and political mobilization has continued. Observers note that a number of political and civil society actors have formed coalitions capable of organizing large demonstrations and public campaigns since early 2025, denouncing political authoritarianism, politically motivated trials, and restrictions on fundamental freedoms. These mobilizations have been coordinated by alliances such as the Tunisian Network for Rights and Freedoms and the Nafas Movement, which bring together civil society organizations and opposition parties. These coalitions have organized several demonstrations linked to national events or in protest against prosecutions targeting freedom of opinion, most recently on 25 July 2026.

According to the Observatory's June 2026 report, social mobilization expanded significantly during the second quarter of 2026, with 1,884 protests recorded—representing a 44% increase compared with the first quarter of the same year. June 2026 was identified as the most contentious month since the beginning of the year, with 867 protest actions documented.