Mariem Sassi

Mariem Sassi, a young Tunisian woman and political activist with the Free Destourian Party, spent 8 months in Manouba Women’s Prison, having been sentenced to imprisonment under Article 20 of Decree-Law No. 54 on cybercrime in connection with her management of her party’s social media pages. The case dates back to October 2023, when she was referred to the courts over her digital party activity; she was heard on 16 October 2023 and left at liberty. On 7 March 2024, she was arrested and held in police custody for 48 hours, then extended by a further 24 hours at the Bouchoucha detention centre. On 14 March 2024, a committal warrant was issued against her and she was committed to Manouba Civil Prison. Her request for release was rejected on 18 April 2024. In June 2024, she was sentenced at first instance to 8 months in prison, a ruling upheld by the Court of Appeal on 10 October 2024. She was released on 30 October 2024 after serving her full sentence. Subsequently, on 12 December 2025, a new judgment was handed down sentencing her to two years in prison in the “registry office case” (the same case in which Abir Moussi was sentenced to 12 years).