New York, July 18, 2025—The Committee to Protect Journalists joined 36 other press freedom and human rights organizations in a statement condemning Tunisia’s ongoing crackdown on freedom of expression and calling for the immediate release of imprisoned commentator Sonia Dahmani, who is serving multiple prison sentences under a repressive cybercrime Decree-Law 54 for her media commentary.
The statement warns that Decree-Law 54 has become the government’s primary tool for targeting dissent, with Dahmani facing five separate cases for political commentary, three of which have already resulted in convictions. A fourth case, carrying a possible 10-year sentence, was scheduled for a key hearing on July 11. A fifth case, where Dahmani is carrying a possible 20-year sentence, is scheduled to begin on September 30.
The statement also expressed deep concern about the harsh prison conditions faced by Dahmani.
Her sister, Ramla Dahmani, was also sentenced in absentia to two years in prison for advocating for the journalist’s release on social media.
Read the full statement in English or العربية.
Editor’s note: This text, originally published on July 10, was updated on July 15 and 18 with additional signatories and the September hearing date. The second paragraph has been updated to add details on the fourth case and that the fifth case is scheduled for a hearing on September 30, and that she faces a 20-year sentence in that trial, according to her lawyer.