UN rights chief says Tunisia must end repression of civil society, journalists

The UN high commissioner for human rights has urged Tunisia to stop what he described as widening repression against civil society groups, journalists, rights defenders and opposition figures.

Volker Turk said Tunisian authorities are increasingly using judicial and administrative measures to restrict freedom of association and silence criticism. His remarks were carried in AFP-based reporting published on Thursday.

The statement comes after a series of recent moves against Tunisian rights groups. Reuters reported that authorities suspended the Tunisian League for Human Rights for one month, while Avocats Sans Frontieres said it received a suspension order and rejected it as unjustified.

Turk also pointed to the detention of journalist Zied el-Heni and broader pressure on media workers. The timing of those cases has intensified concern over the space for independent reporting and civic activity in Tunisia.

The UN rights chief's remarks add to international scrutiny of Tunisian President Kais Saied's government, which has faced repeated criticism from rights groups over arrests, restrictions and legal action against opponents.

It was not immediately clear how Tunisian authorities would respond to the UN statement. The sources reviewed for this report did not include a formal government reply.