Tunisian court rejects provisional release of opposition figure on health grounds

The appeal trial of a prominent Tunisian lawyer jailed on anti-terror charges started on Thursday, after the judge rejected the defence's demand for his provisional release on health grounds.

Ahmed Souab's lawyers and relatives said his health condition had become critical since his jailing in April last year as part of what many said was a crackdown on political dissent.

The court rejected his provisional release and postponed the hearing to February 23, his lawyer, Fedi Snene, told AFP.

Souab, also a rights advocate and a former judge, was detained after claiming that judges were under political pressure to hand down hefty sentences last year in a mass trial of critics of President Kais Saied.

He had been a member of the defence team during the high-profile mass trial, and last October he was sentenced to five years in prison in a speedy trial that lasted less than two minutes.

UN Special Rapporteur on human rights defenders Mary Lawlor said on Wednesday Souab had been convicted on "baseless charges" and called for his "immediate release".

📍TUNISIA

Tomorrow, unjustly detained HRD Ahmed Souab is set to appear before the Court of Appeal.

FLD reiterates grave concern over his deteriorating health and urge Tunisian authorities to release him and drop all charges against him.

🔗Read more:https://t.co/G7W0GKagYR pic.twitter.com/h2dbEsXjWc

— Front Line Defenders (@FrontLineHRD) February 11, 2026

I will be closely following tomorrow’s hearing for defender & lawyer Ahmed Souab before the Tunis Court of Appeal. On 31 Oct 2025, he was sentenced to 5 years imprisonment & 3 years of administrative supervision on baseless charges. He should be released immediately @TunisieDiplo https://t.co/3NlPfaQ6eQ

— Mary Lawlor UN Special Rapporteur HRDs (@MaryLawlorhrds) February 11, 2026