The Association for the Prevention of Torture in Tunisia has revealed a significant rise in the number of prisoners since President Kais Saied’s controversial exceptional measures in 2021, with the prisoner population increasing by approximately 50%.
According to a recent report, the number of detainees has risen from about 22,000 between 2018 and 2021 to over 32,000 today, partly due to the arrest of 10,000 Tunisians following the implementation of Saied’s measures in July 2021.
Fethi Jarray, head of the association, described the overcrowding in Tunisian prisons as “alarming,” pointing out that even prisons previously not overcrowded, such as the women’s prison in Manuba, are now facing severe congestion. Jarray emphasised the detrimental impact this overcrowding has on both prisoners and prison staff.
He called for alternative punishment methods, such as fines, for non-violent offences, as more than 60% of prisoners are serving sentences of one year or less.
Jarray further warned that overcrowding violates prisoners’ rights, including access to adequate healthcare, food, and living conditions.
The Tunisian opposition has accused President Saied of using the judiciary to target political opponents, an accusation the president has denied, reaffirming his commitment to judicial independence.
