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Lawyer and media personality jailed for speaking out against racism

Sonia Dahmani is a lawyer and media commentator who has dedicated her life to defending human rights, standing up for the marginalized, and saying what others are afraid to, no matter the cost.

She is a vocal critic of inhumane prison conditions and racism, regularly addressing these issues on television and radio shows.

On May 11, 2024, masked policemen violently raided the Tunisian Bar Association in Tunis and arrested Sonia. They detained her in Manouba prison, where she has been held ever since. The Tunisian authorities have convicted and sentenced Sonia for “spreading false news”, with more politically motivated investigations still pending. She faces up to 25 years in prison. Her imprisonment is a clear attempt to silence her.

Sonia is being held in inhumane conditions. Her cell is rat-infested. She has endured degrading treatment by prison authorities. She is being denied medical care, including the medication she needs.

Call for the release of Sonia Dahmani - send your email using our email-writing tool.

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The President of Tunisia

Kais

Saied

The President of Tunisia

Your Excellency,

I write to you to express my grave concern over the prolonged unjust imprisonment of Tunisian lawyer Sonia  Dahmani. She is imprisoned for exercising her right to freedom of expression, including publicly criticising conditions of detention in Tunisian prisons as well as the ill-treatment of refugees and migrants.

Following her public comments during her regular appearances on television and radio shows, Tunisian authorities have initiated five separate legal proceedings against her. She has been convicted and sentenced to imprisonment, first for making an ironic comment during a TV show, and then, in a separate case, for highlighting racist and discriminatory practices in Tunisia. Both convictions were based on the draconian Decree-Law 2022-54 on Cybercrimes. All pending cases stem from the exercise of her right to freedom of expression.

Sonia Dahmani is enduring cruel and inhuman conditions of detention in prison, including temperature extremes. She has developed serious health issues and is denied necessities and adequate healthcare, while being subjected to mistreatment by prison guards. Sonia Dahmani shares a cell with four other detainees, including a shared toilet facility with no privacy. Hygiene is deplorable, with limited access to hot water; rats and insects infest her cell.

I urge you to immediately and unconditionally release Sonia Dahmani, quash her unjust convictions and sentences, and drop the baseless criminal investigations against her. Pending her release, she must be granted access to her family, lawyers, and adequate healthcare and held in conditions that meet international standards for the treatment of prisoners.

Sincerely,

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