Dear Mr Russel,
I hope this email finds you well.
I am writing to respectfully draw your attention to the alarming situation of Mr. Chawki Tabib, my husband ,lawyer, former President of the Tunisian Bar Association, former head of the National Anti-Corruption Authority (INLUCC), and one of the most prominent voices defending judicial independence and the rule of law in Tunisia.
Chawki s case cannot be separated from the broader political and judicial developments that Tunisia has experienced since July 25, 2021, when President Kais Saied assumed full powers in a context widely perceived as a rupture with constitutional guarantees and democratic institutions.
Since that date, many judges, lawyers, journalists, civil society actors, political opponents, and former officials associated with independent institutions or democratic reforms have been subjected to increasing pressure, intimidation, arbitrary prosecutions, travel bans, smear campaigns, and restrictions on fundamental freedoms.
Mr. Tabib has been among the principal targets of this climate.
Because of his past responsibilities at the head of the Tunisian Bar Association and the National Anti-Corruption Authority, as well as his public positions in defense of judicial independence and democratic institutions, he has faced years of harassment and political targeting.
In August 2021, he was placed under house arrest without transparent legal justification. Since January 2024, he has also been subjected to a travel ban and repeated campaigns aimed at discrediting his reputation, integrity, and professional credibility.
On April 14, 2026, he was arrested following proceedings initiated before the Financial Judicial Unit in relation to a Court of Auditors report concerning administrative expenditures during his tenure at INLUCC, mainly involving salaries and bonuses.
However, the circumstances surrounding his arrest and detention have raised profound concerns among lawyers and observers regarding respect for due process and fair trial guarantees.
Mr. Tabib was detained before being properly heard, and a detention order was issued immediately afterward in conditions perceived by many members of the legal community as arbitrary and politically motivated.
lawyers closely following this case, Believe that the accusations rely essentially on administrative matters and do not justify such severe arbitrary measures. Serious procedural irregularities and violations of defense rights have also been raised. Copies of reports, procedural documents, and supporting materials can be provided to demonstrate the arbitrary and disproportionate nature of these proceedings.
Beyond the legal aspects of the case itself, the imprisonment of a former President of the Tunisian Bar Association under such circumstances sends a chilling message to the entire legal profession in Tunisia.
The case has provoked strong reactions within the Tunisian legal community. On May 1, 2026, Tunisian lawyers convened an extraordinary general assembly and announced a strike and boycott of judicial proceedings that fail to respect judicial independence and fundamental procedural guarantees.
More recently, the Prosecutor General before the Tunis Court of Appeal challenged the legality of this assembly, and an appeal hearing has been scheduled for June 10, 2026, further illustrating the growing tensions between the authorities and the legal profession.
This situation raises serious concerns regarding:
* the independence of the judiciary,
* the protection of lawyers in the exercise of their profession,
* the misuse of judicial proceedings against independent voices,
* and the progressive erosion of the rule of law in Tunisia.
As his wife, colleagues, friends, and fellow lawyers, we are living under an atmosphere of fear and repression that increasingly affects all those perceived as independent or critical voices.
From prison, Mr. Tabib continues to place great hope in the solidarity, independence, and moral responsibility of the international legal community.
We would therefore be deeply grateful for any expression of solidarity, public statement, trial observation initiative, institutional support, or communication that your respected Bar Association or colleagues may be able to provide regarding this situation.
I remain entirely at your disposal should you require further information, documentation, procedural materials, or clarification.
With sincere regards
Meriem Ben Azouz Tabib
Also see
