Relatives of imprisoned lawyers and politicians in Tunisia are urging the International Criminal Court (ICC) to investigate allegations of political persecution and human rights violations, as an increasing number of President Kais Saied’s opponents face arrest, and some detainees stage hunger strikes.
Yusra Ghannouchi, the daughter of imprisoned opposition leader Rached Ghannouchi, intends to join the children of other detained dissidents in The Hague to announce their plans for action at the ICC.
Earlier this year, members of this group presented a similar case to the African Court on Human and Peoples’ Rights. In a recent news release, they highlighted the rising number of arrests of judges, politicians, journalists, and prominent opposition figures, alleging a campaign of persecution, including against Black migrants in Tunisia. The release stated, “There has been a major increase in repression and mass human rights violations by Tunisian authorities at the behest of President Kais Saied.”
This announcement draws attention to the increasingly repressive political environment in Tunisia since the constitutional revisions of 2021, which expanded Saied’s powers, dissolved the parliament, and allowed him to rule largely by decree. As the country’s economic woes deepen, Saied’s administration has imprisoned numerous critics and fueled hostility towards Black migrants, often leading to violence.
Among those joining Yusra Ghannouchi are Kaouther Ferjani, the daughter of Ghannouchi’s Ennahda colleague Said Ferjani; Jaza Cherif, the son of scholar-activist Chaima Issa; and Elyes Chaouachi, the son of lawyer and former lawmaker Ghazi Chaouachi. Each of these parents has been a vocal critic of Saied and is or has been imprisoned. Over 20 opponents of Saied have been in detention since February on various charges, including endangering state security.
On Thursday, the group plans to submit an Article 15 claim to the ICC, providing documents outlining allegations related to at least one of the four crimes it investigates: genocide, crimes against humanity, war crimes, or crimes of aggression. While anyone can file such a claim for ICC review, only a few lead to extensive investigations.
Maria Elena Vignoli, Senior International Justice Counsel at Human Rights Watch, explained, “They provide a unique channel for actors, including NGOs and victims’ associations, to bring the prosecutor’s attention to alleged crimes.”
The group’s visit to the ICC comes amid hunger strikes by detainees and shortly after the detention of prominent Saied opponent and former lawmaker Abir Moussi, who was attempting to file a complaint at Carthage Palace, the Tunisian president’s headquarters. Her lawyer stated that the reason for her 48-hour detention was unclear.
In recent weeks, imprisoned politicians in Tunisia have undertaken hunger strikes to protest what their defense teams have called “a judicial sham” that resulted in their imprisonment. Attorneys for Elyes Chaouachi and the five striking politicians emphasized that the accusations and legal process deprived prisoners of their freedom without presenting adequate justification for the charges against them. Ghannouchi also staged a three-day hunger strike in solidarity with Jawhar Ben Mbarek, the leader of the main coalition opposing Saied’s regime, who has been on an open-ended hunger strike.
