/ / Urgent Action: MASS TRIAL OF POLITICAL DISSIDENTS OPENS (Tunisia Fourth UA 52.23)

MASS TRIAL OF POLITICAL DISSIDENTS OPENS

UA: Fourth 52.23 Tunisia

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On March 4, 2025, the trial of 40 individuals, including political opposition figures, lawyers, and human rights defenders facing bogus “conspiracy” charges, started. Politicians Jaouhar Ben Mbarek, Khayyam Turki, Issam Chebbi, Ghazi Chaouachi, Ridha Belhaj, and Abdelhamid Jelassi have been arbitrarily detained since February 2023 in this case. Tunisia’s anti-terrorism court has been investigating all of them for trying to “change the nature of the state” under Article 72 of the Penal Code which carries the death penalty. Following the first trial hearing, the judge decided to adjourn it to April 11 without responding to the defense requests, which included the provisional release of detainees as well as their presence in court which was held through remote court proceedings. We call on the Tunisian authorities to immediately and unconditionally release those detained as they are held for peacefully exercising of their human rights. Authorities must drop all the charges against them.

PLEASE TAKE ACTION AS SOON AS POSSIBLE UNTIL: July 10, 2025

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Step 1

Write your letter

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You can now write a letter in your own words or download the sample below as a guide. A copy of the sample has also been sent to your email address.

Remember to send your letter by July 10, 2025.

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Sample Letter

Your Excellency,

I am gravely concerned over the prolonged arbitrary detention of opposition figures, Jaouhar Ben Mbarek, Khayyam Turki, Issam Chebbi, Ghazi Chaouachi, Ridha Belhaj, and Abdelhamid Jelassi on unfounded “conspiracy” accusations. Over two years have passed since their arrest exceeding the legal limit permitted for pre-trial detention under Tunisian law.

On February 26, 2025 the Tunisian Bar Association received a memo from Tunis Court of First Instance informing them that terrorism trials scheduled for the month of March will be held without the physical presence of detainees and that they will be attending online from prison invoking ”the existence of a real danger”. The detainees announced that they will refuse to participate in their trial online and will not take part until they are brought to the court room. Their next trial hearing scheduled for April 11 will also be held online following a decision of the President of the Court of First Instance of Tunis.

I therefore urge you to ensure that Jaouhar Ben Mbarek, Khayyam Turki, Issam Chebbi, Ghazi Chaouachi, Ridha Belhaj, and Abdelhamid Jelassi, are immediately released as they are detained solely for the peaceful exercise of their human rights. I also urge you to ensure that all the unfounded charges against all defendants in the case are immediately dropped, and arbitrary travel bans and restrictions on their rights are lifted.

Yours sincerely,

[YOUR NAME]

Sample Social Post

I urge you @TnPresidency to ensure that Jaouhar Ben Mbarek, Khayyam Turki, Issam Chebbi, Ghazi Chaouachi, Ridha Belhaj, and Abdelhamid Jelassi, are immediately released as they are detained solely for the peaceful exercise of their human rights.

Tweet to @TnPresidency

Step 2

Send your letter

Mail your letter to the government officials listed below. You can also email, fax, call, or post about them on social media.

Send your letter to:

President of the Republic Kais Saied

*Note: there is no international address for this UA. Target the president on social media and through email

[email protected] @TnPresidency Presidence.tn

and

CC: Tunisian Embassy in the United States, Ambassador Mrs. Hanene Al-Tajouri Bessassi

Send a copy of your letter to the address below

1515 Massachusetts Avenue,

NW, Washington DC 20005

[email protected]

When writing your letter, don’t forget to be factual, brief, and show respect. See more letter writing tips and emails, or organize and host a letter writing party.

Other Urgent Actions for this Case

Third UA Issued: [Tunisia 52.23]

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