A group of 40 international legal and human rights organisations has condemned what it describes as escalating attacks on Tunisia’s legal profession, judiciary and civil society. The statement refers to a wider pattern of intimidation, obstruction and retaliation against lawyers, judges, the Tunisian National Bar Association (ONAT), magistrates’ associations and independent civil society organisations.
The organisations argue that interference with the legal profession and the judiciary has serious implications for the rule of law and access to justice. The statement calls for lawyers and professional bodies to be able to carry out their duties freely and independently, including in defence of fair trial guarantees, judicial independence and human rights.