Urgent Update: Tunis Appeal Court Confirms Convictions of Aid Workers

On 13 May 2026, the Tunis Court of Appeal upheld the convictions of Mr. Abderrazek Krimi and Mr. Mustapha Djemali, confirming their two‑year prison sentences, including six months suspended. Although both men were released in November 2025 after having spent over 18 months in detention, this ruling confirms criminal liability for the work they carried out providing humanitarian assistance to refugees in coordination with UNHCR.

The Appeal’s Court’s decision reinforces a troubling precedent: humanitarian support is being treated as a criminal offence by Tunisian legal bodies. For Mr. Krimi and Mr. Djemali, the judgment prolongs legal uncertainty and stigma, and they have announced their intention to appeal to the Cour de Cassation as a matter of principle.

The initial judgment dates back to 24 November 2025, when a Tunis court found the two men guilty of “hosting irregular migrants.” Their activities consisted of legitimate humanitarian assistance to vulnerable refugees. Despite the non-criminal nature of their work, both men were subjected to prolonged pre-trial detention exceeding the limits set under Tunisian law. The proceedings were marked by procedural irregularities and indications of bias during the investigation phase. Their detention and prosecution have drawn concern as part of a broader pattern of shrinking space for humanitarian action in Tunisia.

This trend is further illustrated by the ongoing detention of Ms. Saadia Mosbah, a 66‑year‑old aid worker and human rights defender, who was sentenced in February 2026 to eight years’ imprisonment for her work supporting sub-Saharan refugees. She remains detained in extremely difficult conditions, with her appeal hearing scheduled for 19 May 2026. Her case underscores the escalating risks faced by humanitarian actors in the country.

Mr. Djemali and Mr Krimi received support from Protect Aid Workers, LAW and Protect Humanitarians, who repeatedly and publicly called for their release. LAW represents Mr. Djemali, Mr. Krimi and Ms. Mosbah in international procedures.

We continue to call for the immediate and unconditional release of Ms. Mosbah and for Tunisia to align its practices with its legal obligations.

Tunisia signed the 2025 Declaration for the Protection of Humanitarian Personnel. It is time it honors its commitments.

LAW provides free legal information, advice and representation to aid workers globally.

If you are:

• an aid worker who survived an attack and would like information on their rights and accountability options.
• the family members of an aid worker who was killed in the course of their work or who is detained.
• a humanitarian organisation whose staff members were attacked.

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