A Tunis court on June 26, 2026, sentenced Sihem Bensedrine, 75, a prominent human rights defender and former president of the Truth and Dignity Commission, to a total of 25 years in prison and a heavy fine, apparently in retaliation for her work. Her sentencing is the latest in the ongoing yearslong crackdown by President Kais Saeid's government on civic space and dissent in Tunisia.
The following quote can be attributed to Bassam Khawaja, deputy Middle East and North Africa director at Human Rights Watch:
"The abusive conviction and sentencing of Sihem Bensedrine to 25 years behind bars reflects the cruelty of President Kais Saied's government, which has sought to strangle human rights and social justice in Tunisia. Bensedrine has for decades been harassed, jailed, and pushed into exile for her human rights work. Her sentence would keep her in prison until she's 100 years old. The Tunisian authorities should immediately overturn her conviction and drop these abusive prosecutions."
