Alkarama has recently addressed the United Nations Working Group on Arbitrary Detention (WGAD) under the follow-up procedure relating to its Opinion concerning Mr Rached Ghannouchi, a leading Tunisian opposition figure, former Speaker of Parliament and head of the Ennahdha movement, following the life sentence imposed on him on 2 June 2026 by the Criminal Chamber specialising in terrorism cases at the Tunis Court of First Instance in the so-called “Secret Apparatus” case.
In Opinion No. 63/2025, the Working Group found that Mr Ghannouchi’s deprivation of liberty was arbitrary and called for his immediate release, together with the provision of appropriate reparation.
Detention Found to Be Arbitrary
Mr Ghannouchi was arrested on 17 April 2023 in connection with proceedings brought in several cases linked to his political activities and public statements, in a context that gave rise to serious concerns regarding compliance with the fundamental guarantees of a fair trial. It was in these circumstances that Alkarama, in cooperation with the Association of Victims of Torture in Tunisia (AVTT), submitted the case to the Working Group, leading to the adoption of an Opinion finding his detention to be arbitrary.
Following the adoption of the Opinion, Mr Ghannouchi’s legal representatives brought it to the attention of the competent Tunisian authorities and courts and also relied upon it in proceedings before the courts seized of his cases.
For its part, Alkarama contacted Tunisia’s Permanent Mission to the United Nations in Geneva, calling on the Tunisian authorities to ensure the effective implementation of decisions issued by UN mechanisms, including the opinions adopted by the Working Group.
Despite these efforts, the life sentence handed down in June 2026 runs contrary to the Working Group’s findings and raises serious concerns regarding the implementation of Opinion No. 63/2025 and Tunisia’s compliance with its international obligations, particularly its duty to cooperate in good faith with United Nations mechanisms.
Against this backdrop, Alkarama has once again referred the matter to the Working Group in order to inform it of these developments and to seek enhanced action as part of the follow-up to its Opinion, calling on the Tunisian authorities to ensure its effective implementation.
Alkarama reaffirms its commitment to continuing its engagement with international human rights protection mechanisms in order to secure the effective implementation of decisions issued in cases of arbitrary detention.