Tunisian authorities arrest dozens amid crackdown on LGBTQ+ community

Amnesty International released a report on Thursday stating that Tunisian authorities have arrested dozens of people in recent months based on their sexual orientation or gender identity. The organization expressed serious concern about this and called for an immediate end to such human rights violations. These arrests highlight a worrying trend of discrimination and persecution.

According to statistics from the Tunisian NGO "Damj Association for Justice and Equality," authorities intensified their crackdown on the LGBTQ+ community between September 26, 2024, and January 31, 2025, arresting a total of 84 people in cities such as Tunis, Hammamet, Sousse, and Kef, most of whom were gay men and transgender women. Many of those arrested are currently facing arbitrary detention and unfair prosecution, raising serious concerns about due process.

Damj emphasized that these figures are "not exhaustive" because they are based only on cases where the organization directly provided assistance to LGBTQ+ community members, and the actual numbers may be several times higher. Saif Ayadi, Damj's project manager and a queer activist, told Amnesty International: "We estimate that the actual number is at least three times the number currently recorded, because a few years ago, when we were able to access official prosecution data, we found that our records covered, on average, at most only a third of the affected population." This indicates a significant underreporting of the actual scale of the problem.

Those arrested were detained and prosecuted under Article 230, which criminalizes same-sex relations and carries a maximum sentence of three years in prison, as well as under provisions in the penal code that criminalize "public indecency" or behavior deemed offensive to "public morals." Diana Eltahawy, Amnesty International's Deputy Regional Director for the Middle East and North Africa, stated that these vaguely worded laws "allow law enforcement to carry out mass arrests simply because individuals have failed to conform to gender norms or have gender appearances or expressions that do not conform to norms." The ambiguity of these laws provides a pretext for discriminatory enforcement.

Amnesty International also pointed out that gay men and transgender people in Tunisia are often targeted because of gender stereotypes, behavior, or appearance, and prosecutions are based on videos and photos illegally seized from detainees' devices during arrests. The organization added that men accused of engaging in same-sex relations are forced to undergo anal examinations to obtain "evidence," a practice that Amnesty International considers to be torture. This invasive practice is a clear violation of human rights and dignity.

This wave of arrests followed an online campaign of homophobia and transphobia launched on September 13. Hate speech targeting the LGBTQ+ community spread across hundreds of social media pages, and popular television and radio hosts called for banning LGBTQ+ organizations and arresting activists. These arrests are part of a broader crackdown that targets activists, journalists, and public figures in the name of upholding morality and social values, reflecting a concerning trend of suppressing dissent and freedom of expression.

Last fall, at least 10 influencers and content creators, including some living abroad, were convicted and sentenced to up to four and a half years in prison after the Ministry of Justice issued a statement announcing it would prosecute anyone who "produces, disseminates, or publishes images or videos containing content that undermines moral values." Defendants included Lady Samara, an Instagram user known for her outspokenness, frequent outbursts, and angry insults directed at advertising companies, who was arrested for swearing. Choumoukh, a 24-year-old Tiktok star with 200,000 followers, was imprisoned for openly discussing sex on a live broadcast. Khoubaib, a non-gender-conforming queer content creator, was prosecuted for challenging gender norms and wearing makeup. These cases highlight the vulnerability of individuals who express themselves outside of traditional norms.

In an appeal on February 5, four people were released after their sentences were reduced, but Khoubaib's sentence was reduced from four years and six months to two years, and he remains in custody. The feminist group Ena Zeda said that this proves the repression against the LGBTQ+ community. The continued detention of Khoubaib underscores the ongoing discrimination and persecution faced by LGBTQ+ individuals in Tunisia, despite some minor concessions.