Tunisian authorities have arrested lawyer Sonia Dahmani and two journalists in the latest crackdown on critics of President Kais Saied’s administration. Dahmani’s arrest on Saturday night was captured on video as masked police stormed the Lawyers’ House, the headquarters of the Tunisian Order of Lawyers (ONAT), where she had sought refuge.
Dahmani’s arrest came after she refused to respond to a summons issued earlier in the week, which was related to comments she made during a television appearance. Appearing on the Donya Zina program on Carthage Plus, Dahmani had sparked controversy when she criticized Tunisia’s declining living standards, remarking that the country was unattractive for its youth, who were increasingly seeking to leave. The remark, which many found derogatory, led to the issuance of a summons for Dahmani’s questioning.
This is not the first time Dahmani has publicly criticized the government. Just two weeks prior, she appeared on the same show to accuse President Kais Saied of transforming Tunisia into a “border guard” for Europe, alluding to the country’s role in managing refugee and migrant flows from sub-Saharan Africa.
The political crackdown extended beyond Dahmani, with TV and radio host Borhen Bssais and political commentator Mourad Zeghidi also arrested on the same night for their public comments. All three were placed under a 48-hour detention warrant and were expected to appear before an investigating magistrate.
Dahmani’s legal team explained that she had not responded to the summons because it lacked any justification or supporting documentation. She instead sought protection in the Lawyers’ House, which was subsequently raided by police for her arrest. The move has sparked further concern over the increasing suppression of dissent in Tunisia.
Journalists reporting on the case were also detained, including Maryline Dumas from France 24, who managed to film part of the raid. Dumas and the other journalists have since been released, but Dahmani’s whereabouts remain uncertain.
Dahmani’s arrest is part of a wider pattern of growing intolerance for opposition voices in Tunisia, as the government continues to target critics in an effort to consolidate power ahead of elections. The situation has drawn widespread condemnation from human rights groups, who warn that Tunisia’s democratic gains since the 2011 revolution are increasingly under threat.
