Tunisia: at least 11 protesters arrested after march for Soumoud

The exact number remains uncertain. Lawyer Ghassen Besbes counts 11, while activists mention 13 individuals held in custody. Another lawyer, Fedy Snene, stated that a judge had extended their detention by 48 hours and that the interrogations focused on the slogans chanted during the march. Tunisian authorities had not released an official tally by Monday evening.

The Tunisian General Labour Union, the National Bar Association of Tunisia, and the Tunisian Human Rights League issued a joint statement in response. The three organizations called for the release of those arrested and warned against resorting to security and judicial responses to address political and social conflicts. They also demanded respect for the right to peaceful assembly and guarantees for the physical integrity of detainees.

Several hundred people marched on Saturday in central Tunis to demand the release of four members of the Tunisian coordination of the Soumoud Flotilla. The procession, which began at the headquarters of the National Union of Tunisian Journalists, included various trade unions, lawyers, and human rights defense associations.

Wael Naouar, Ghassen Henchiri, Ghassen Boughdiri, and Nabil Chennoufi have been detained since March as part of an investigation into alleged financial offenses related to funds raised for the flotilla. On September 11, an investigating judge from the Economic and Financial Judicial Pole extended their provisional detention by four months. The charges against them remain under investigation.

The defense coordination indicated on Monday that Wael Naouar was on his 37th day of hunger strike, while the other three detainees were on their twelfth day. The organizations that signed the statement requested that medical follow-up be guaranteed in accordance with the applicable rules for detainees.