Ahmed Souab is a renowned Tunisian lawyer, former administrative judge, and long-time human rights defender, recognised for his principled commitment to justice and the independence of the judiciary. After serving on Tunisia’s Administrative Court, he became a leading voice for accountability and reform following the 2011 revolution, co-founding the Union of Administrative Judges and defending victims of administrative abuse, political repression, and arbitrary dismissals. Known for his outspoken criticism of executive interference and human rights violations, he has been an important advocate for fair-trial guarantees and the rule of law in Tunisia.
On 21 April 2025, he was arrested by the Counter-Terrorism Brigade after publicly condemning political pressure on judges in an opposition-related case. Held incommunicado and later charged with “spreading false information” and “terrorism-related offences,” he was sentenced on October 31st of this year, to five years in prison and three years of administrative supervision, a punishment widely denounced as politically motivated and emblematic of the broader crackdown on dissent and independent lawyers in Tunisia.
