In May 2024, the victim of the violation, Imen Ouerdani was summoned for questioning in connection with an investigation opened against the organization “Terre d’Asile Tunisie.” The authorities focused on a report published by the organization in 2022, which stated that Terre d’Asile Tunisie office had been established in the municipality of Sousse following the signing of a partnership agreement between the organization and the Municipality of Sousse. The report indicated that Sousse ranked fourth in Tunisia in terms of the number of registered refugees and asylum seekers.

At the time, Imen Ouerdani was serving as President of the Equal Opportunities Committee within the Municipal Council, in addition to her role as Deputy Mayor. When the organization submitted a request to open an office, as is commonly done by various civil society organizations, the file was reviewed. In her capacity as Committee President, Imen referred the request to the Municipal Council for approval, after which it was forwarded to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, given that Terre d’Asile Tunisie is a branch of a foreign organization.

On 10 May 2024, the victim appeared before the National Guard Brigade in El Aouina, where the Public Prosecutor ordered her arrest. She was charged with money laundering, forgery, forming an association for the purpose of facilitating the entry of foreigners, and abuse of office. There was no apparent justification for her detention, particularly as an expert financial report confirmed that her bank accounts showed no financial transactions linking her to Terre d’Asile Tunisie. Furthermore, the questions addressed to Imen during the investigation reportedly centered on her civil society activities and her relationship with the organization.

Since that date, the victim has remained in detention for over nine months, in conditions similar to those faced by other civil society actors arrested in connection with their work. According to her mother, Imen was even denied the right to wear woolen clothing to protect herself from the cold inside the prison.

On Thursday, 23 January 2025, the victim appeared before a panel of experts for the presentation of the financial report conducted in her case, which confirmed the absence of any financial transactions linking her to Terre d’Asile Tunisie.