The Tunisian Association of Democratic Women (ATFD) reacted, Saturday, November 29, 2025, to the arrest of member of the National Salvation Front Chayma Issa, sentenced Friday to twenty years in prison in the context of the so-called “plot against state security” case.
In a statement, the organization deplored a campaign of collective repression and systematic punishment targeting women activists and politicians, “ in a context of trials devoid of basic conditions of fairness and minimal respect for the fundamental rights of defendants ».
She reiterated her total support for Chayma Issa and all the women targeted by this repression, calling on the authorities to guarantee their physical and psychological integrity.
« The humiliating kidnapping of Chayma Issa, ostentatiously orchestrated at the heart of a peaceful demonstration organized by the Tunisian Association of Democratic Women, and bringing together many components of civil society and the political landscape to protest against restrictive policies and the suspension of associative activities, is only a new illustration of the decline in human rights and an additional indicator of the tendency of this regime to increase hostile actions towards women », denounced the ATFD.
The organization demanded the immediate cessation of these policies which attack the democratic space, empty justice of its substance and return the country to a cycle of intimidation and muzzling of free voices.
Noting that “ the targeting of rights defenders and the repression of civil space (…) constitute a direct affront to the spirit of the Revolution and the right of Tunisians to express themselves and organize freely “, she asserted that ” this once again highlights the danger of a drift towards punitive and vindictive policies instead of a real commitment to justice and the law ».
The ATFD concluded by reaffirming that the protection of women’s rights and fundamental freedoms is an intangible duty. “ Any attempt to silence women constitutes a new assault on democracy and the rule of law in Tunisia “, she underlined in her press release.
Chayma Issa was arrested on Saturday afternoon, at the heart of the demonstration in defense of freedoms organized in downtown Tunis. According to several witnesses, including lawyer Dalila Ben Mbarek Msaddek, plainclothes agents arrested her while she was walking among the demonstrators. The operation took place quickly, in a big crowd, under the shocked gaze of the participants.
NJ
