human rights defender
Sonia Dahmani
Actions and Campaigns
human rights defender
Actions and Campaigns
1968
Woman
Urban
Released on parole
(AI translated) Sonia Dahmani is a well-known Tunisian lawyer and influential media columnist. She is particularly well known for her outspoken and critical views on political and social issues in Tunisia. As a columnist, she has appeared on popular programmes such as ‘Émission Impossible’ and ‘Denya Zida’.
Sonia Dahmani is also the mother of a daughter.
May 11, 2024
Nov 27, 2025
(AI translated) A total of four years and two months in prison for comments on racism towards sub-Saharan migrants in Tunisia, under Decree-Law 54 on cybercrime, which has been criticised for its repression of freedom of expression.
Latitude: 36.803894080089094
Longitude: 10.092583894729616
Tunis
Prison Manouba
(AI translated) In May 2024, Sonia Dahmani was arrested by plainclothes security forces at the headquarters of the Bar Association in Tunis, following statements she made on a television programme, accusing her of spreading false information under Decree-Law 54. This arrest sparked a wave of solidarity, particularly from the Tunisian National Bar Association (ONAT), which went on strike in protest.
In October 2024, while already in detention, Sonia Dahmani was sentenced to an additional two years in prison, heightening concerns about freedom of expression in Tunisia.
On 30 June 2025, Sonia Dahmani was sentenced to an additional two years in prison.
On 27 November 2025, Sonia Dahmani was released on parole.
On April 13, 2026, the Tunis Court of Appeals sentenced Sonia Dahmani to one year and six months in prison for violating Decree-Law 54.
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(AI translated) Sonia Dahmani is a well-known Tunisian lawyer and influential media columnist. She is particularly well known for her outspoken and critical views on political and social issues in Tunisia. As a columnist, she has appeared on popular programmes such as ‘Émission Impossible’ and ‘Denya Zida’.
Sonia Dahmani is also the mother of a daughter.
Latitude: 36.803894080089094
Longitude: 10.092583894729616
(AI translated) A total of four years and two months in prison for comments on racism towards sub-Saharan migrants in Tunisia, under Decree-Law 54 on cybercrime, which has been criticised for its repression of freedom of expression.
(AI translated) In May 2024, Sonia Dahmani was arrested by plainclothes security forces at the headquarters of the Bar Association in Tunis, following statements she made on a television programme, accusing her of spreading false information under Decree-Law 54. This arrest sparked a wave of solidarity, particularly from the Tunisian National Bar Association (ONAT), which went on strike in protest.
In October 2024, while already in detention, Sonia Dahmani was sentenced to an additional two years in prison, heightening concerns about freedom of expression in Tunisia.
On 30 June 2025, Sonia Dahmani was sentenced to an additional two years in prison.
On 27 November 2025, Sonia Dahmani was released on parole.
On April 13, 2026, the Tunis Court of Appeals sentenced Sonia Dahmani to one year and six months in prison for violating Decree-Law 54.
(AI translated) While in detention, Sonia Dahmani suffered various forms of ill-treatment, including: deprivation of movement, denial of access to appropriate medical care, and prohibition from walking or even stretching.