The International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH) has denounced what it described as the arbitrary suspension of two leading Tunisian civil society organisations in Tunisia.
The NGOs are the Tunisian Association of Democratic Women (ATFD) and the Tunisian Forum for Economic and Social Rights (FTDES).
FIDH called their suspension as another sign of escalating repression against civic freedoms in Tunisia.
Meeting in Bogotá, the FIDH expressed its “deep indignation” over the suspension of the two NGOs, both long-standing defenders of human rights in Tunisia. According to the federation, the decisions were made “without solid legal grounds or respect for due process,” in violation of the constitution and Decree-Law No. 2011-88 on associations — a post-revolution legal framework designed to protect civil society independence.
While Tunisian authorities cited administrative oversight as justification, no irregularities were reportedly found in the operations of either organisation, whose records were deemed compliant with legal obligations. The suspensions were allegedly issued without written justification, prior consultation, or the right to appeal. For the FIDH, this represents “a frontal assault on freedom of association” and part of “a deliberate strategy to bring Tunisia’s civic space to heel.”
“Tunisian law has become a weapon in the hands of those in power. It is time for the international community to stand with those who suffer from its abuse rather than those who exploit it,” said Aïssa Rahmoune, FIDH Secretary-General.
The organisation warned that Decree-Law 2011-88, originally meant to guarantee NGO autonomy, is now being weaponised to silence critical voices under the pretext of investigating foreign funding — which remains legal under Tunisian law.
The move comes amid a broader crackdown under President Kaïs Saïed, marked by the dissolution of the High Judicial Council, the dismissal of judges, and a surge in prosecutions targeting journalists, lawyers, and activists. The FIDH argued that the judiciary is now being used as a tool of harassment against human rights defenders.
Founded in 1989, the ATFD — a FIDH member since 1994 — is a leading feminist organisation that supports hundreds of women affected by violence each year. The FTDES, established in 2011 and affiliated with the FIDH since 2013, plays a key role in advancing social justice, documenting inequality, migration, and labor movements.
The FIDH concluded that the suspension of the two organisations represents “a grave attack on the core values of democratic Tunisia — freedom, dignity, and solidarity.”
MK/ak/lb/as/APA