Tunisian organisations demand freedom for detained Gaza activists

Sixteen Tunisian organisations have called for the immediate release of activists detained over their involvement in the “Sumud Flotilla”, an initiative aimed at challenging the Israeli blockade of Gaza, reports Middle East Monitor and agencies on March 18th.

In a joint statement, the groups condemned the arrests and urged authorities to halt all legal proceedings, arguing that “supporting the Palestinian cause is not a crime.” The signatories include prominent civil society bodies such as the Tunisian League for Human Rights, the National Union of Tunisian Journalists, and the Tunisian Association of Democratic Women.

The organisations accused authorities of targeting pro-Palestinian activism and held the government “directly responsible” for the detentions. They also criticised the judicial process, describing it as lacking credibility and suggesting the arrests go beyond efforts to prevent ships from sailing to Gaza.

On March 16th, Tunisian judicial authorities ordered the detention of seven members of the steering committee of the Maghreb Freedom Flotilla. Prosecutors have launched investigations into allegations including tax evasion and money laundering, though activists and supporters have rejected the charges as politically motivated.

The groups behind the statement argued that the move appears to be part of a broader attempt to curb solidarity efforts with Palestinians, particularly initiatives aimed at challenging the blockade on the Gaza Strip.

As of the afternoon of March 17th, Tunisian authorities had not issued an official response to the criticism. However, officials have previously maintained that the judiciary operates independently and that the government does not interfere in its work.

Authorities have also repeatedly expressed Tunisia’s support for Palestinian rights, including the establishment of an independent Palestinian state, a position widely backed across the country.

The “Sumud Flotilla” forms part of a wider network of international solidarity campaigns seeking to draw attention to conditions in Gaza and to challenge longstanding restrictions on the territory. Similar flotilla efforts in the past have attracted global attention, often sparking diplomatic tensions and debates over the legality and enforcement of blockades.

Middle East Monitor and agencies, Maghrebi.org