Human Rights Watch (HRW) has condemned the arbitrary arrest of Ahmed Sobhi, a well-known human rights lawyer in Tunisia, urging the authorities to drop what they describe as "baseless terrorism charges" against him and to release him immediately. The organization claims that the Tunisian government is retaliating against critics and the lawyers who represent them. Sobhi, who is 69 years old, has been sentenced to prison on terrorism-related charges and is set to undergo a new trial as part of the appeal process.

HRW highlights that Sobhi was pursued by Tunisian authorities due to statements he made while representing defendants in a case concerning "conspiracy against state security." The Tunis Court of Anti-Terrorism sentenced him to five years in prison and an additional three years of administrative monitoring following a trial that lasted only a few minutes, during which Sobhi was absent, and journalists were barred from attending. The court opted for a remote trial citing a "real risk," but did not provide further details regarding this claim, leading to concerns about fairness and transparency in the judicial process.

The situation underscores the growing tensions in Tunisia surrounding freedom of speech and the judiciary's independence, as critics of the government face increasing repression. HRW's call for Sobhi's release highlights the challenges faced by human rights defenders in Tunisia, and raises alarms about the implications for the rule of law and human rights in a country that has struggled with democratic transitions since the Arab Spring.