The Tunisian Court of Appeal is considering the file of activist Seif Al-Din Arafawi

The Tunisian Court of Appeal on Friday 13 November 2026 in its first appeal hearings examined the file of the political and civil activist and member of the same movement Saif al-Din Arafi, who has been imprisoned since late last August. This hearing comes on Pet's appeal against his probation and the judge sentenced him to one year and six months in prison.

The facts of the case date back to Arabic posts on Facebook that included slogans raised during a peaceful protest march organized in the center of the capital on 20 August 2026. He was prosecuted based on the provisions of Section 86 of the Communications Journal relating to harassment of others through public communications networks.

The Intersection for Rights and Freedoms Association said it was tracking down a civil and political activist and sentencing him to prison just for re-publishing slogans raised in a march that undermines freedom of opinion, expression and the right to peaceful protest, warning of expanding the use of Chapter 86 of Communications to prosecute opponents and activists for their views. The Assembly added that the imposition of a negative penalty for freedom in this context constitutes a very dangerous restriction contrary to constitutional guarantees and international charters.

The judicial authorities had suspended Seifuddin Al Arawawi on 21 August 2026 and submitted his file the same day, to issue a jail sentence in his right on 24 August, before the Tunisian Primary Court issued her prison sentence on 31 August 2026 after a course of no more than 10 days between suspension and sentencing.