Tunisia suspends prominent feminist association

The Tunisian Association of Democratic Women (ATFD), a prominent group known for its decades-long fight for democracy and women’s rights, has been suspended by Tunisian authorities, triggering strong reactions from other civil society organizations and activists.

Founded in 1989, the feminist organization has been at the forefront of major political and social battles, particularly in resisting the dictatorship of former president Zine El Abidine Ben Ali, who was ousted in the 2011 popular uprising.

The suspension marks a new low for civil liberties in Tunisia, as many NGOs and international observers have been warning of a growing authoritarian drift since President Kais Saied’s power grab in the summer of 2021. 

Saied has ruled by decree since dissolving parliament and assuming sweeping powers, moves that critics describe as unconstitutional.

Local media this week also reported that judicial investigations have been opened into alleged foreign funding received by several civil society organizations, including the Tunisian Forum for Economic and Social Rights (FTDES), I Watch, Al-Bawsala, and the independent media outlet Inkyfada.

Human rights groups fear these measures are part of a wider crackdown aimed at silencing dissent and restricting independent voices in the country.

Observers warn that Tunisia, once hailed as the lone democratic success story of the Arab Spring, risks losing the gains it made in human rights, transparency, and freedom of expression.