Tunisian Critic Sonia Dahmani Freed from Prison, Vows to Continue Fighting for Freedom
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In a significant development, Tunisian lawyer and writer Sonia Dahmani, 60, was conditionally released from prison on Thursday after being granted a temporary reprieve. Dahmani was arrested in May 2024 for her outspoken comments on radio and television denouncing racism in Tunisia, and was subsequently convicted in multiple cases. Dahmani, a vocal critic of President Kais Saied, spoke to AFP after her release, stating that she still faces ongoing cases and will attend court for each of them. She expressed her determination to continue fighting for freedom, specifically targeting the infamous Article 24, a presidential decree that punishes the dissemination of false information with five years of prison. The decree, issued in 2022, has been widely criticized for its potential to stifle freedom of speech. Dahmani predicted that the decree will eventually be abolished, saying, "Everyone has fully realised that this Article 24 is extremely dangerous for our freedoms." She also expressed her confidence that those detained under Article 24 will be released. While the justice ministry's decision to grant Dahmani conditional release was based on a medical expert's assessment that she suffered from a deterioration in her health, her lawyer Sami Ben Ghazi confirmed that she remains under judicial supervision. The European Parliament has adopted a resolution calling for Dahmani's immediate and unconditional release, along with other individuals detained for similar offenses. Dahmani's release comes as Tunisia continues to grapple with the consequences of President Saied's 2021 power grab, which has raised concerns about a rollback on freedoms. Dahmani's sentencing in June was related to comments in which she criticized the existence of cemeteries and buses reserved for black people in certain parts of the country. Her case has sparked international concern, with human rights groups warning of the dangers of suppressing free speech and dissent.
