• The “Against the Criminalization of Civil Action and Civil Society Organizations in Tunisia” campaign reportedly called for a protest in solidarity with five detained activists and NGO workers.
• The protest will be held outside the Court of First Instance on Tunis’ Bab Bnet Avenue at 09:30 (local time) on December 15.
• The demonstration will coincide with the opening of the first trial involving employees of the NGO “Tunis Land of Asylum” at the same court.
• Among the signatories of the campaign are several Tunisian and international NGOs and human rights groups.

1. The demonstration comes amid recurrent protests denouncing Tunisian authorities’ perceived clampdown on dissent, political opposition, and civil society, including organizations working on human rights, as well as migration and asylum. Several of the activists on trial have reportedly been held in pre-trial detention since May 2024, reinforcing perceptions of crackdowns on NGO workers. The case aligns with broader restrictions imposed on civil society, such as the temporary suspension of the Tunisian Forum for Economic and Social Rights (FTDES) and the Tunisian Association of Democratic Women (ATFD) in October, both of which have mobilized in support of the December 15 protest.
2. The planned demonstration also follows a protest march in Tunis on December 13 that reportedly drew hundreds of activists and opposition figures from across the political spectrum. They called for expanded political freedoms and “the restoration of democracy.” The march followed several weeks of sustained demonstrations, pointing to a growing momentum in protest activity. On the same day, clashes between security forces and youths erupted in central Tunisia’s Kairouan following a fatal police chase.
3. FORECAST: Given the broad coalition of Tunisian and international organizations endorsing the demonstration, including FTDES and ATFD, turnout can be anticipated to be in the range of high dozens to low hundreds. The protest is expected to transpire peacefully, although a bolstered security presence is likely due to the protest’s location outside a court and its overtly anti-government nature.  While organizers have called for a peaceful gathering, recent protest momentum and instances of localized unrest, such as in Kairouan, will heighten tensions and increase the risk of scuffles with security forces. Traffic disruptions can be anticipated in the vicinity of the Court of First Instance during the morning hours.

Those operating or residing in Tunis during the morning hours on December 15 are advised to maintain heightened vigilance and allot for disruptions to travel in and around the Court of First Instance due to the slated protest and associated risk of unrest.