Tunisia

 Country Profile

There was a significant increase during the year in arrests, detentions, and investigations of opposition politicians, journalists and other media figures, lawyers, and other perceived critics of the government in Tunisia.

Significant human rights issues included credible reports of: torture or cruel, inhuman, or degrading treatment or punishment by the government; arbitrary arrests or detentions; serious problems with the independence of the judiciary; political prisoners or detainees; arbitrary or unlawful interference with privacy; serious restrictions on freedom of expression and media freedom, including unjustified arrests or prosecutions of journalists, censorship, or enforcement of or threat to enforce criminal libel laws to limit expression; serious restrictions on internet freedom; substantial interference with the freedom of association, including overly restrictive laws on the organization, funding, or operation of nongovernmental and civil society organizations; restrictions on the right to leave the country; refoulement of refugees to a country where they would face torture or persecution; serious and unreasonable restrictions on political participation; serious government corruption, both high-level and widespread; crimes involving violence or threats of violence against Black Tunisians and sub-Saharan Africans; laws criminalizing consensual same-sex sexual conduct between adults and the enforcement of those laws; crimes involving violence or threats of violence targeting lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, or intersex persons; and significant restrictions on workers’ freedom of association.

The government took some credible steps to address impunity or reduce abuses, but human rights groups frequently asserted that investigations into abuses by police, security forces, and detention center officials lacked transparency and encountered long delays and procedural obstacles. High-profile investigations into former government officials, members of parliament, media figures, and businesspersons on corruption, conspiracy, and terrorism charges also lacked transparency.

Cases

Released

Image  Jabeur Mejri

For Further Reference

Full U.S. Department of State Human Rights Country Report
U.S. Department of State International Religious Freedom Country Report
U.S. Department of State Trafficking in Persons Report Country Narrative
Report of the Working Group on the Universal Periodic Review
Human Rights Watch World Report Country Chapter
Amnesty International Annual Report Country Chapter
Freedom House Freedom in the World Country Report