Tunisian authorities have ordered the temporary suspension of the World Organisation Against Torture (OMCT) office in Tunis for 30 days.
This measure, delivered via an ex parte order on November 5, has intensified fears regarding the erosion of civil liberties and a growing atmosphere hostile to independent civil society groups.
During the suspension period, the OMCT office will be barred from providing essential direct assistance to victims of torture or their families. The organization has announced its intention to pursue legal action to challenge the order, while reaffirming its commitment to the rule of law and the defense of fundamental rights.
The decision targeting the OMCT comes amid increasing pressure on several independent associations in Tunisia, including the Tunisian Association of Democratic Women (ATFD), which faces a similar measure.
Observers suggest these suspensions are indicative of an increasingly restrictive application of the Tunisian legal framework. Critics argue the state is using these measures to limit the actions of human rights defenders and shrink the space available for civil society expression.
Numerous local organizations have denounced what they term an authoritarian drift and a climate of intimidation against critical voices. They argue that these actions are part of a broader series of repressive moves that have also targeted political opponents and journalists, who are often tried in proceedings described by NGOs as summary.
The Tunisian Press Council has voiced its “deep concern” over the deteriorating media climate, citing “professional, legal, economic, and social tensions” that are hindering journalistic work and threatening the public’s right to information.
International NGOs are now calling for the immediate lifting of the suspension on the OMCT and the restoration of an environment that respects public freedoms—pillars deemed essential for the democratic transition initiated after 2011.
MK/te/Sf/fss/abj/APA