In a recent written statement submitted to the UN Human Rights Council, the Coordination des Associations et des Particuliers pour la Liberté de Conscience has exposed a deeply troubling pattern of human rights violations in Tunisia under President Kaïs Saïed’s regime.
The statement documents state-sponsored persecution, particularly targeting political opposition and sub-Saharan migrants. According to Human Rights Watch’s World Report 2025, over 80 individuals were detained on political grounds by November 2024, including political opponents, activists, lawyers, journalists, and human rights defenders. The electoral process has been severely compromised, with 14 out of 17 presidential candidates either arrested or disqualified, leaving only three candidates—including Saïed himself—approved by the increasingly controlled Independent High Authority for Elections. UN Special Rapporteur Mary Lawlor has condemned these actions, describing the detentions as “a grave violation of international human rights conventions,” and urging Tunisian authorities to create a safe environment for legitimate human rights work.
