Intersection Association for Rights and Freedoms presents its annual report for 2023

In its annual report on human rights violations in Tunisia, the Intersection Association for Rights and Freedoms points out that 2023 saw a large number of trials against various categories of Tunisians, including journalists, politicians, human rights defenders and trade unionists. At a press conference at the headquarters of the National Union of Tunisian Journalists (SNJT) on Tuesday, members of the association drew up a balance sheet of "human rights violations" between January and December 2023, pointing to an increase in the number of arrests and trials of human rights activists, trade unionists, political opponents, journalists and bloggers. In its report, the association mentions in particular the extension of the period of detention of those accused of "conspiracy against state security", the appearance before court of journalists under Decree-Law 54 of 13 September 2022 on the fight against offences related to information and communication systems, and on the basis of the law against terrorism and money laundering. The report also cites the arrest of Abir Moussi, President of the Free Destourian Party (PDL), at the entrance to the Carthage Palace on October 3, 2023, when she had come to lodge an appeal against the decisions of the Presidency of the Republic concerning the election of local councillors. Intersection Association for Rights and Freedoms recorded 115 human rights violations in 2023, including 19 cases of prosecution under Decree-Law 54, targeting 4 journalists, 7 lawyers, 2 civil society activists and 3 from other sectors. According to the report, the press is the most targeted sector, with the Journalists' Union recording 237 violations between January and October 2023. Founded in 2020, the Intersection Association for Rights and Freedoms is an independent civil society organisation working on human rights issues. It works to strengthen the concepts of human rights, democracy and freedoms and to promote practices that respect these values.