Increasing repression against LGBTQI+s in Tunisia

In Tunisia, 84 people were tried and arrested because of their sexual orientation or gender identity between September and January. 

Amnesty International said in their statement: “Tunisian authorities must immediately and unconditionally release all those arrested.”

The repression of LGBTQI+s in Tunisia has been on the public agenda. According to the Tunisian NGO Damj Association for Justice and Equality, at least 84 people, the majority of whom were gay men and transgender women, were arbitrarily arrested, detained and prosecuted because of their sexual orientation or gender identity. The arrests and detentions in Tunisia took place between September 26, 2024 and January 31, 2025 in the cities of Tunis, Hammamet, Sousse and El Kef.

Tunisia’s penal code criminalises homosexuality and carries a prison sentence of up to three years.

Amnesty International reported that the increase in arrests followed a large-scale online campaign that began on September 13, 2024. The campaign included homophobic and transphobic hate speech targeting LGBTQI+ activists and organisations on hundreds of social media pages, including those supporting Tunisian President Kais Saied.

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