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Tunisia

Barometer

With a moratorium on executions
Country status
136
Sentenced
0
Execution(s)
49
Conviction(s)
Figures for 2022. The last execution in Tunisia took place in 1991.

Since 2011, ECPM has been supporting local abolitionist networks including its partner, CTCPM, to propose a reform of the Tunisian penal system. Meetings between key actors in the struggle (NGOs, lawyers, doctors, journalists, etc.) are fostered through awareness raising workshops and political meetings.

Awareness raising activities target high school and secondary school students, as well as the general public, through an extensive educational programme (educational presentations, development of tools adapted to the political and cultural context), seminars and conferences held throughout the country and cultural events (exhibitions of works against the death penalty, film festivals, theatrical performances, etc.).

Exhibition of drawings on Avenue Bourguiba (Tunis, 2019)


The situation of death row prisoners

As of 31 December 2022, 136 death row prisoners were detained in Tunisian prisons, including 3 women. The vast majority of death row prisoners were held in the Mornaguia prison; the women were held in the Manouba prison. In 2021, the occupancy rate of Tunisian prisons reached 126.4%.

Tunisia : the death penalty in law and practice
Tunisia : the death penalty in law and practice

Until 1996, those sentenced to death were isolated, held in solitary confinement, often shackled, even at night. In January 2011, in the wake of the popular protests that led to the fall of the dictatorial regime of Zine el-Abidine Ben Ali, the Revolution put an end to the most shocking abuses suffered by death row prisoners. They were once again allowed to have visits from their immediate families and to receive food baskets twice a week. Throughout their incarceration, until their sentences were commuted in 2012, death row prisoners lived in terror of being executed and developed pathologies linked to death row syndrome. Having suffered from isolation, prisoners experienced overcrowding, poor hygiene and food that was considered “vile”.

Paradoxically, the material conditions of detention of prisoners have deteriorated since the Revolution, as prisons are affected by budgetary restrictions and shortages. Although the situation varies enormously from one prison to another, depending on the centrality or remoteness of the region in which it is located, the medical and psychological care of prisoners on death row is generally inadequate. Death row inmates have not had access to educational, vocational and technical training programmes and have not been given the opportunity to work. There is no system for support or reintegration assistance for death row prisoners who have received pardons and have been released, so they are left to fend for themselves when they leave prison.

All reports

Human Rights Protection Mechanisms
Summary report on the death penalty for the UPR of Tunisia (2022)
Mar 2023
Human Rights Protection Mechanisms
Alternative report on the death penalty in view of the consideration of the periodic report of Tunisia (41st Session 2022) (French)
Oct 2022
Human Rights Protection Mechanisms
Tunisia, 27th session of the working group on the universal periodic review, Human Rights Council, May 2017
Oct 2022
Conditions of detention
Buried alive: a monograph of the death penalty in Tunisia (French)
Oct 2022
Abolition process
The process of abolishing the death penalty in member states of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation
Oct 2020

All tools

Infographics – the death penalty in Tunisia (2022)
Tunisia : the death penalty in law and practice
Presentation flyer of the Tunisian Coalition against the Death Penalty (French, Arab)
Abolition of the death penalty: A practical guide for NHRIs
Algeria, Morocco, Mauritania and Tunisia : from moratorium to abolition of the death penalty

All news

Culture
Meet the winners of the 6th edition of the “Draw me abolition” competition!
16 June 2023
This year, around 500 young people from 10 different countries brought together their artistic talents and militant commitment to draw up the abolitionist posters of the future. From Austria, Cameroon, Democratic Republic of the Congo, France, Germany, Indonesia, Morocco, Senegal, Tunisia and Uganda, our young artists demonstrated exceptional creativity! Among…
cover 10 arguments for the abolition in arabic
Editorial / opinion page
ECPM publishes 10 arguments against the death penalty in Arabic
02 March 2022
As part of its project co-funded by the European Union, Norway and the French Development Agency, ECPM is publishing a leaflet against the death penalty in Arabic. The leaflet aims to strengthen awareness and advocacy among Arabic-speaking interlocutors and is available both print and online.
Competition poster
Culture
” Draw me abolition “: you are the jury !
06 April 2021
It is time to decide on the winners of the 5th edition of “Draw me abolition”! Out of around 400 posters produced by young people aged between 14 and 20 from 13 different countries, 50 posters have been shortlisted. ECPM and the International Network for Abolition Education are pleased to…
cover publication
Publication
The process of abolishing the death penalty in member states of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC)
26 November 2020
As the 47th session of the Council of Foreign Ministers organised by the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) is being held in Niamey, Niger, on 27 and 28 November 2020, ECPM and Nael Georges publish the study The process of abolishing the death penalty in member states of the Organisation…
In pictures, In the field
The 17th World Day Against the Death Penalty is already over, but the fight for abolition continues
14 October 2019
At the dawn of the 17th World Day Against the Death Penalty, ECPM takes you around the world to campaign together for universal abolition. Under the map, find more details about the events we have supported! Follow the news of the abolition with the hashtag #AbolitionNow! Find out more about…