Intersection Association for Rights and Freedoms condemns the decision to suspend the activities of Avocats Sans Frontières (ASF) in Tunisia and reaffirms its full and principled support for this internationally respected human rights organization, which has demonstrated over many years its commitment to protecting human rights and strengthening fair trial guarantees and the right to defence.

The Association considers this decision part of a systematic and escalating campaign targeting civil society organizations and seeking to restrict their freedom to operate, express themselves, and organize. Such measures pose a serious threat to the future of rights and freedoms in Tunisia.

The Association calls on the Tunisian authorities to immediately reverse this decision and halt all measures that could restrict the work of independent human rights organizations or threaten their continued operation. It further calls for an end to systematic policies of pressure and restrictions against civil society and urges the authorities to genuinely uphold Tunisia’s international commitments, particularly those relating to freedom of association and the right to engage in independent civil society work, as guaranteed by the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR).

Intersection Association for Rights and Freedoms emphasizes that a free and independent civil society is not a privilege granted by the authorities, but a fundamental right guaranteed under international human rights law. The Association holds the Tunisian authorities fully responsible for the consequences of this decision.

The Association also calls on all national and international human rights organizations to mobilize and demonstrate meaningful solidarity in defence of civic space and its independence, strengthen concrete forms of support for Lawyers Without Borders and other organizations subjected to various forms of restriction and harassment, and stand united against all attempts to suppress civic space and undermine its independence.