Ayachi
Hammami
Ayachi Hammami is a lawyer who defended 57 judges dismissed by presidential decree in 2022. Charged in May 2023 in the Conspiracy Case, in which he was defence counsel, he was sentenced to five years in prison and arrested on 2 December 2025 to serve the sentence, which became final in September 2026.
- Country
- Tunisia
- Role
- Lawyer
- Arrested
- 2 Dec 2025
- Sentence
- Five years in prison plus two years of administrative supervision, reduced from eight years at first instance.
- Status
- Imprisoned (serving sentence)
- Arrested
- 2 Dec 2025
- Sentence
- Five years in prison plus two years of administrative supervision, reduced from eight years at first instance.
- Judicial status
- Convicted, final
- Restrictions
- Travel ban
- Name in Arabic
- العياشي الهمامي
- Charges
- Membership of a terrorist organisation (Conspiracy Case, conviction final)
- Failure to report terrorist offences (dropped on appeal)
- Offences under Decree-Law 54 over public statements (two separate cases, outcome unknown)
The arrest, and what followed.
Background and Work
Ayachi Hammami is a lawyer who has built his career representing individuals in politically sensitive and human rights cases. He has consistently challenged abuses of power and advocated for civil liberties, judicial independence, and the rule of law in Tunisia.
In June 2022, Hammami became spokesperson for the committee defending 57 magistrates dismissed by presidential decree. This role placed him at the centre of efforts to uphold judicial independence in Tunisia, a position that exposed him to sustained harassment and reprisals from the authorities.
In a video released shortly before his arrest, Hammami denounced what he called a "purely political decision" and announced the immediate start of a hunger strike. He described a deliberate strategy aimed at instilling fear, stigmatising dissent, and manufacturing "internal enemies" to silence and neutralise critical voices in the country.
The Arrest and Criminalisation of His Work
Hammami began his involvement in the Conspiracy Case as legal counsel for defendants. In May 2023, however, he was added to the list of suspects and charged, effectively criminalising his professional work.
Following the charges, authorities imposed a travel ban and limitations on his public engagement, constraining both his professional activities as a lawyer and his human rights advocacy.
On 2 December 2025, Hammami was arrested at home to serve his sentence. The arrest marked a clear escalation connected to his work defending dismissed judges and advocating for human rights in Tunisia.
Legal Proceedings
Hammami has been targeted in multiple judicial proceedings. In the Conspiracy Case, the Tunis court of first instance sentenced him on 19 April 2025 to eight years in prison: five years for membership of a terrorist organisation and three for failing to report terrorist offences. On 27 November 2025 the Court of Appeal dropped the failure to report count and sentenced him to five years in prison and two years of administrative supervision. On 3 September 2026 the Court of Cassation upheld the conviction, making it final.
He also faces two separate cases under Decree-Law 54 on information and communication systems. The first, opened in January 2023 after a complaint by the Minister of Justice, concerns radio remarks criticising her failure to comply with court orders reinstating judges dismissed in 2022. The second concerns a video about the hunger strike of Jaouhar Ben Mbarek. No verdict has been reported in either case. Despite the reduction, the sentence remains severe and disproportionate.
The case raises serious concerns about judicial independence, the criminalisation of legal defence work, and violations of fair trial guarantees in Tunisia.
Detention Conditions and Health
On 12 January 2026, Hammami's family reported that prison authorities had arbitrarily denied his lawyers' requests to visit him, further restricting his right to legal counsel.
In protest of his detention and conviction, Hammami initiated a hunger strike on 2 December 2025, the day of his arrest. The strike lasted 43 days and ended on 15 January 2026.
In October 2026 he was moved from Mornaguia prison to Monastir prison, far from his family.
Violations of Fair Trial and International Law
Hammami's prosecution exemplifies the troubling trend of targeting lawyers for performing their professional duties, in violation of international standards protecting legal independence and the right to defence.
The case involves the conflation of roles between lawyer and accused, disproportionate sentencing, and apparent retaliation for his human rights advocacy, all of which undermine the right to a fair and impartial trial.
The restrictions on access to legal counsel, arbitrary detention, and treatment in prison contravene Article 9, 14, and 19 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, the UN Minimum Standards for the Treatment of Prisoners (Nelson Mandela Rules), and the UN Basic Principles on the Role of Lawyers.
Tunisia has obligations under the UN Declaration on Human Rights Defenders to protect individuals who peacefully defend human rights. Hammami's arrest and detention clearly violate these obligations and contribute to an atmosphere of intimidation against lawyers and human rights defenders in the country.