Tunisia: Families of opponents request the intervention of the ICC

In Tunisia, the families of several political opponents have decided to ask the International Criminal Court (ICC) to investigate what they call systematic repression by the Kais Saied regime. Since the latter took power in 2021, dozens of political figures and activists have been arrested, often without fair trial. The families accuse the government of massive human rights violations, including arbitrary detentions and ill-treatment in prison.

A tense political context

Since President Kaïs Saïed seized power in a coup in July 2021, freezing parliament and amending the constitution, Tunisia has seen a significant setback in political freedoms and human rights. The crackdown on opponents reached a new peak in 2024, when several opposition figures, lawyers and journalists were arrested under controversial circumstances.

The call for the ICC: a cry of alarm

The families' initiative, which calls for the ICC to intervene, reflects their despair at a local justice system perceived as controlled by the executive. According to their lawyers, these families hope that the ICC will be able to investigate human rights violations and provide a path to justice for imprisoned opponents.

Tunisia under international surveillance

The move comes as Tunisia, once hailed as the sole success story of the Arab Spring, has increasingly attracted international attention for its authoritarian turn. Organizations such as Amnesty International have also denounced the arrests and pressure on human rights defenders.

Tunisia's political future remains uncertain, but international legal actions could open a new page in the country's fight for human rights.