A coalition of 24 South African Muslim, civil society and human rights organisations has called for the immediate release of veteran Tunisian opposition leader Rached Ghannouchi and other political prisoners, warning that Tunisia is undergoing a dangerous erosion of political freedoms.
The coalition’s intervention follows the sentencing of Rached Ghannouchi, 84, to life imprisonment plus an additional 30 years by a Tunisian court on 2 June 2026 in a case linked to allegations surrounding Ennahdha’s alleged “secret apparatus”. Ghannouchi and his supporters have consistently rejected the accusations, arguing that the prosecutions form part of a broader campaign to silence political opposition.
The statement, coordinated by the Centre for Islamic Research – Africa (CIRA), was endorsed by organisations including Amnesty International South Africa, the Ahmed Kathrada Foundation, the Muslim Judicial Council and the United Ulama Council of South Africa (UUCSA).
Signatories argue that Tunisia’s judiciary is increasingly being weaponised against dissenting political voices, particularly figures associated with the Ennahdha movement, once a central force in the country’s post-revolution political transition.
The coalition said the continued detention and prosecution of opposition leaders violates fundamental principles of freedom of expression, political participation, association and fair trial rights. It also called on regional and international actors, including the South African government, to engage Tunisian authorities on restoring political freedoms and securing the release of political detainees.
Speaking to One Nation Media (ONM), Ambassador Mohamed Dangor traced Tunisia’s current political trajectory to the aftermath of the 2011 uprising that removed longtime dictator Zine El Abidine Ben Ali from power.
What was once widely celebrated as the “Arab Spring” is today increasingly viewed by many critics as an “Arab Winter”, as hopes for reform and political renewal across parts of the region gave way to instability, repression, conflict and the shrinking of civic freedoms.
He recalled how the self-immolation of a street vendor, following the confiscation of his goods by authorities, triggered mass protests that transformed Tunisia’s political landscape and raised hopes for a more representative political order.
Among those who returned from exile during that period was Ghannouchi, founder of the Ennahdha Movement, whose party later emerged as a major political force in Tunisia’s first post-uprising elections.
“Although they won the majority of seats, they opted for an inclusive approach and did not take all the key positions of power,” Dangor said.
Kais Saied regime
According to Dangor, political tensions and institutional instability later created the conditions that enabled the rise of President Kais Saied, an independent constitutional law professor who positioned himself as an outsider to the political establishment.
“Once he came into power, he disbanded parliament and many political leaders, particularly those associated with Ennahdha, were imprisoned,” Dangor told ONM.
In July 2021, Saied suspended parliament, dismissed the government and later began ruling by decree. Critics described the move as a reversal of the democratic gains achieved after the 2011 uprising, while Saied defended his actions as necessary to confront corruption, economic stagnation and political paralysis.
Dangor described contemporary Tunisia as a society increasingly marked by fear and political uncertainty.
“There is a sense of fear among people about doing and saying anything,” he said, adding that accounts emerging from Tunisia point to an increasingly restrictive political environment.
The South African coalition argues that the release of political prisoners is essential to rebuilding public trust, restoring institutional legitimacy and reopening an inclusive political process reflective of the Tunisian people’s aspirations.
As advocacy efforts intensify, organisers have announced a public webinar on June 16 featuring Reverend Frank Chikane, political analyst Na’eem Jeenah and Ghannouchi’s daughter. The discussion is expected to focus on political developments in Tunisia, the shrinking of civic space and prospects for national reconciliation.
Tunisia today remains deeply polarised. Supporters of President Saied argue that strong measures are necessary to restore stability after years of political dysfunction and economic hardship. Critics, however, warn that the imprisonment of opposition figures, restrictions on dissent and concentration of power risk dismantling the political freedoms established after the 2011 uprising.
The South African organisations backing the statement have urged Tunisian authorities to release political prisoners, halt what they describe as politically motivated prosecutions and create conditions for meaningful national dialogue. They argue that Tunisia’s future stability depends not on repression, but on broad political participation, accountability and respect for civil liberties.
