Un avocat défenseur des droits humains libéré !

Ahmed Souab a été libéré le lundi 23 février 2026, après plus de dix mois de détention arbitraire. Sa libération est un grand soulagement pour sa famille, ses collègues et ses soutiens, d’autant plus que son état de santé s’était dégradé durant son incarcération. Nous nous félicitons de cette évolution positive, mais sa poursuite judiciaire demeure un exemple flagrant de la persécution dont sont victimes les avocat·e·x·s, les défenseur·euse·x·s des droits humains et les voix critiques.

Nous vous remercions sincèrement pour votre engagement et votre soutien. La mobilisation a été essentielle pour attirer l’attention internationale sur sa situation. 

Human rights lawyer released

On 23 February 2026, Ahmed Souab was released after nearly 10 months in arbitrary detention. The prominent human rights lawyer had been arrested in April 2025 for criticizing judicial independence and was prosecuted in proceedings widely deemed unfair and politically motivated. Ahmed Souab was sentenced for exercising his duties as a lawyer and should have never been detained. His health had deteriorated significantly in detention, making his release a relief for his family and supporters.

On Monday 23 February 2026, human rights lawyer Ahmed Souab was released from prison after spending approximately 10 months in arbitrary detention.

Ahmed Souab, a prominent lawyer, former judge, and member of the defence team in the so-called «conspiracy case», was arrested on 21 April 2025 following public remarks in which he criticized the lack of judicial independence in Tunisia. Authorities subsequently prosecuted and sentenced him after proceedings widely condemned by Amnesty International and other organizations as unfair and politically motivated. During his detention, Ahmed Souab’s health significantly deteriorated. His release therefore comes as a welcome relief for his family, colleagues, and supporters, particularly given his worsening medical condition while in detention.

While we welcome this positive development, he should never have been arrested in the first place and his prosecution remains emblematic of the ongoing targeting of lawyers, human rights defenders, and critics perceived as challenging the authorities, especially those involved in defending defendants in politically motivated cases.

Thanks to supporter mobilization and advocacy efforts, including raising his case with national authorities and diplomatic representatives, Ahmed Souab was finally released. Sustained worldwide mobilization has been essential in maintaining international attention on his situation and on the broader crackdown against independent voices in Tunisia.

No further action is requested. Many thanks to all who sent appeals.