Tunisian lawyers launched a nationwide strike on Monday, protesting the weekend arrest of lawyer and political commentator Sonia Dahmani.
The strike, reported as 100% observed by Laroussi Zguir, head of the bar association’s Tunis division, saw lawyers rallying outside the Tunis court of first instance.
Protesters demanded Dahmani’s release and accused the judiciary of acting “under orders.”
The controversy began when Dahmani, who had been critical of President Saied’s policies regarding sub-Saharan migrants, refused to appear in court for comments she made on television.
Police, some in masks, raided the bar association headquarters where Dahmani had sought refuge.
Dahmani’s arrest, along with those of broadcaster Borhen Bssais and commentator Mourad Zeghidi on Saturday, has sparked outrage.
All three were arrested under Decree 54, a law criticized by journalists and opposition figures who view it as a tool to silence dissent.
Introduced by President Saied in 2022, the decree criminalizes “spreading false news” online or in the media, carrying a potential sentence of five years in prison.
The arrests come amidst growing tensions in Tunisia.
Lawyers are demanding not just the release of their colleagues but also a reevaluation of Decree 54, which they see as an infringement on freedom of expression.
The international community is likely to be watching this situation closely, concerned about the erosion of democratic principles in Tunisia.
