GENEVA (2 January 2026) – UN experts* today expressed
their alarm at the new criminal proceedings initiated
against Judge Anas Hmedi, President of the Association of
Tunisian Magistrates, based on media statements he made as
association president and in defence of judicial
independence in Tunisia.
“Judges must be able,
individually and collectively, to participate in public
debate on the organisation, functioning, and independence of
the judiciary, in accordance with their duties of discretion
and responsibility, and without fear of pressure, deterrent
measures, or legal proceedings that could impede the
exercise of their institutional functions,” the experts
said.
These new charges, coming on top of those
initiated since 2022, target him for his work as head of the
Tunisian Magistrates Association, through which he has
promoted, protected, and safeguarded the independence of the
judiciary in Tunisia.
“We are concerned that these
actions may constitute a new set of reprisals against Judge
Hmedi for exercising his rights to freedom of peaceful
assembly and of association, and for defending the
independence of the judiciary in Tunisia,” the experts
said.
The experts have been in touch with Tunisia
about their concerns.
*The
experts:
- Margaret
Satterthwaite,
Special Rapporteur on the independence of judges and
lawyers; - Irene
Khan, Special
Rapporteur on freedom of opinion and
expression; - Gina
Romero, Special
Rapporteur on freedom of peaceful assembly and of
association.
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