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Tunisia Frees Prominent Lawyer Who Became Vocal Critic of President
Ahmed Souab, detained on terrorism charges after criticizing the judiciary, was released by a Tunisian court amid opposition hopes for broader political prisoner releases.
- On Feb 23, a Tunisian court ordered the release of prominent lawyer Ahmed Souab, a fierce critic of President Kais Saied, with his family hoping it will lead to freeing other jailed opponents.
- Souab was detained in April last year after condemning a mass trial and charged under Decree 54, with an anti-terror court trying him partly over a knife-miming gesture.
- Upon leaving prison in Tebourba, Souab was released Monday after serving 10 months, with his family citing recent health problems, including a 2022 heart attack.
- Souab's brother Mongi told Reuters, `This is very good news, and we hope it will be followed by the release of all unjustly imprisoned detainees`, while UN special rapporteur Mary Lawlor called his conviction on "baseless charges" earlier this month.
- Last year, Saied dissolved the Supreme Judicial Council and oversaw prosecutions of around 40 people sentenced to up to 45 years, critics say he has full control over the judiciary.
11 Articles
11 Articles
Prominent Tunisia lawyer released from prison
A Tunisian court on Monday ordered the release of prominent lawyer Ahmed Souab, a fierce critic of President Kais Saied, his family said, in a move the opposition hopes will pave the way for the release of other jailed opponents.
Saudi Gazette
AlKhaleej TodayProminent Tunisian lawyer Ahmed Souab released from jail
Tunisian court has ordered the release of Ahmed Souab, a prominent lawyer and outspoken critic of President Kais Saied. His family reported that the order was issued on Monday.
In Tunisia, lawyer Ahmed Souab was released this Monday after being imprisoned in April 2025 and sentenced to five years in prison last October for denouncing political pressure on the justice system during the verdict of the mega-trial of the conspiracy case against the state. His release thanks to a reduction in sentence on appeal was unexpected for his relatives who have been demonstrating tirelessly for months to demand his release.
The former judge in the administrative court "was sentenced to ten months in prison on appeal, a sentence he has already served, and will be released today," according to his lawyer.
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