On the rule of law and human rights situation Tunisia, particularly the case of Sonia Dahmani

B100536/2025

European Parliament resolution on the rule of law and human rights situation Tunisia, particularly the case of Sonia Dahmani

(2025/2988(RSP))

The European Parliament,

– having regard to Rule 150 (5) of its Rules of Procedure,

A. whereas on 11 May 2024, Tunisian media commentator and lawyer Sonia Dahmani was arrested for “spreading false news” and “inciting hate speech”; whereas in September 2024, October 2024 and on 30 June 2025 Dahmani was sentenced to prison sentences under Decree 54 on cybercrime on charges of spreading false news, after having condemned the alleged mistreatment of sub-Saharan African and racism in Tunisia;

B whereas the rising influx of illegal migrants in Tunisia from Libya, Algeria and sub-Saharan countries strains the country’s limited resources and has a negative social and economic impact, leading to overcrowded public services, increased job market competition and social tensions;

C. whereas there is a growing public concern in Tunisia about the social and demographic impact of rising populations of illegal migrants; whereas the emergence of neighbourhoods characterised by high concentrations of sub-Saharan illegal migrants and makeshift camps housing homeless migrants have led to rising fears among local citizens around social cohesion and public security;

D. whereas Tunisian authorities have launched an investigation into dozens of local NGOs suspected of receiving foreign funding from organisations, based in the United States and Europe, including the Open Society Foundations of George Soros; whereas the investigation targets organisations primarily engaged in human rights advocacy;

1. Takes note of the different prison sentences of Sonia Dahmani under cybercrime Decree 54 and the ongoing trials in other outstanding cases; calls on the Tunisian authorities to provide Dahmani with adequate medical care and unhindered access to legal counsel, and to ensure that the trials are handled independently and transparently;

2. Fully respects Tunisia’s 2018 law regulating the activities of associations, which bans foreign

funding that could influence public order or the political process;

3. Encourages and supports legislative reforms and enforcement policies in Tunisia to tackle

illegal migration such as enhancing border security, implementing mechanisms for

repatriation and imposing stricter penalties for illegal entry or residence or prosecuting

individuals or organisations for helping illegal migrants;

4. Notes the European Commission’s designation of Tunisia as a “safe country of origin”,

thereby referring to the independence of the judiciary in Tunisia; notes that the European

Commission disputes the human rights organisations’ allegations of bad treatment of

migrants by Tunisia;

5 Calls on the EU and Tunisia to continue to improve their cooperation in the fight against

illegal migration under the 2023 Memorandum of Understanding; encourages and supports

Tunisia with establishing formal agreements on returns with sub-Saharan countries;

6. Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Council, the Commission, the Vice-

President of the Commission/High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and

Security Policy, the European External Action Service, the governments and parliaments

of the Member States, and the President, government and parliament of Tunisia.