resolution motion, 24 November 2025
On Rule of law and human rights situation in Tunisia, particularly the case of Sonia Dahmani
Motion B-10-2025-0525 · (2025/2988(RSP))
on behalf of the Verts/ALE Group · Rapporteur: Mounir Satouri, Maria Ohisalo, Erik Marquardt, Ville Niinistö, Tineke Strik
AI:In short
This resolution condemns Tunisia's repression of dissent and the detention of lawyer Sonia Dahmani, demanding her release and better conditions. It calls on the EU to condition aid on human rights improvements, review the EU-Tunisia deal, and support civil society.
Key points
- Condemns the arbitrary detention, judicial harassment, and conviction of Sonia Dahmani for exercising freedom of expression.
- Demands the immediate unconditional release of Sonia Dahmani and all political prisoners, and urges dropping charges against her.
- Denounces her detention conditions, including lack of medical care, limited communication, and delayed hearings.
- Denounces President Saied's repression of dissent, opposition, civil society, and migrants, and undermining of judiciary independence.
- Condemns the politically motivated 'conspiracy case' sentencing 37 persons and other unfair trials targeting dissent.
- Calls on the Tunisian government to repeal the cybercrime Decree-Law 54.
- Calls on the Commission, HRVP, and member states to publicly condemn Tunisia's human rights crisis and crackdown.
- Reiterates call to condition macro-financial assistance on human rights improvements and ensure EU funding does not support violations.
- Calls on the Commission to support Tunisian civil society and media, and respond to blocking of their bank accounts.
- Urges the Commission to examine the July 2023 EU-Tunisia Memorandum for consistency with EU treaties and consider suspension.
- Calls on EU delegation and member state embassies to observe trials and visit arbitrarily detained persons.
- Calls on member states to facilitate visas, asylum, and emergency grants for human rights defenders at risk.
Who is affected
- Tunisian authorities: face demands to release prisoners, repeal Decree-Law 54, and improve conditions.
- EU institutions and member states: called to condemn, condition aid, review agreements, and support civil society.
- Human rights defenders in Tunisia: may benefit from visas, asylum, and grants.
Figures and deadlines
Written by AI from the full text · every figure comes from the text · ¶ opens the paragraph · 4 Sept 2026 · Report a problem
Full text
Text 20 paragraphs
B100525/2025
European Parliament resolution on Rule of law and human rights situation in Tunisia, particularly the case of Sonia Dahmani
(2025/2988(RSP))
The European Parliament,
–having regard to Rules 150 of its Rules of Procedure,
A.whereas Tunisian lawyer, writer and media commentator Sonia Dahmani was arrested in front of cameras on 11 May 2024, and sentenced to four years in prison solely for exercising her right to freedom of expression; whereas she is facing multiple trials and could be sentenced with a total of 24 years;
B.whereas Ms Dahmani is subjected to cruel, inhuman and degrading detention conditions, including denial of adequate medical care;
1.Strongly condemns the arbitrary detention, judicial harassment and conviction of lawyer and media commentator Sonia Dahmani solely in retaliation for exercising her right to freedom of expression;
2.Demands the immediate unconditional release of Sonia Dahmani and all other political prisoners, human rights defenders and prisoners of conscience; urges Tunisian authorities to drop all charges in the pending cases against her;
3.Denounces Sonia Dahmani’s unacceptable detention conditions: lacking medical care, limited communication with family and counsel, and delayed hearings, alongside multiple cases aimed at extending her detention;
4.Firmly denounces President Kais Saied´s fierce repression of dissent, crushing of political opposition, targeting of civil society, curtailing of the freedom of expression, undermining of the independence of the judiciary, and the crack down on migrants, asylum seekers and refugees, and those assisting them;
5.Condemns the politically motivated “conspiracy case” from April 2025, unjustly sentencing 37 persons, and other ongoing unfair proceedings, targeting political opposition, activists, lawyers, researchers, demonstrating the repressive practices of Tunisian authorities against any dissent;
Read the rest (8 paragraphs)
6.Calls on the Tunisian government to repeal the cybercrime Decree-Law 54;
7.Calls on all the Commission, the HRVP and Member States to firmly and publicly condemn the deteriorating human rights crisis and crackdown on dissent by the Tunisian government;
8.Recalls the European Parliament´s rejection of the Special Measure for Tunisia from 14 March 2024, and reiterates its call on the European Commission to condition macro-financial assistance to Tunisia upon measurable improvements in human rights, democracy and rule of law; ensure EU funding does not empower institutions and practices contributing to human rights violations and state propaganda, notably the Tunisian justice and interior ministries;
9.Calls on the European Commission to prioritise long-term political and financial support to Tunisia´s civil society and media, and decisively respond to the Tunisian government´s decision to block civil society organisation’s bank accounts;
10.Urges the Commission to examine the July 2023 EU–Tunisia Memorandum of Understanding for consistency with Articles 2 and 21 of the Treaty in light of Tunisia’s deteriorating human rights situation, and consider its suspension while continuing to engage to achieve concrete human rights improvements;
11.Calls on the EU delegation and Member States embassies in Tunisia to observe trials of those arbitrarily detained and visit them;
12 Calls on EU Member States to facilitate visas, asylum and emergency grants for human rights defender at risk of arbitrary detention;
13.Instructs its President to forward this resolution to EU institutions, HRVP, the Member States, and Tunisia;